We present results obtained with a computer-controlled low-coherence interference microscope featuring a modified optical layout that uses a pair of fast switchable achromatic phase-shifters. This layout makes it possible to use ferro-electric liquid-crystal devices made with readily available FLC materials having a switching angle of 45°, and obtain phase shifts of 0° and ±90°. The use of phase shifts of 0° and ±90° simplifies calculations of the fringe visibility and the fractional fringe-order and yields maximum accuracy.

© 2005 Optical Society of America

1. S. S. C. Chim and G. S. Kino, �??Correlation microscope,�?? Opt Lett. 15, 579-581 (1990). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. B. S. Lee and T. C. Strand, �??Profilometry with a coherence scanning microscope,�?? Appl. Opt. 29, 3784-3788 (1990). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. P. Hariharan and M. Roy, �??White-light phase-stepping interferometry for surface profiling,�?? J. Mod. Opt. 41, 2197-2201 (1994). [CrossRef]
4. M. Roy, P. Svahn, L. Cherel, and C. J. R. Sheppard, �??Geometric phase-shifting for low-coherence interference microscopy,�?? Opt. Lasers Eng. 37, 631-641 (2002). [CrossRef]
5. P. Hariharan and P. E. Ciddor, �??Improved switchable achromatic phase shifters,�?? Opt. Eng. 38, 1078-1080 (1999). [CrossRef]
6. M. Roy, C. J. R. Sheppard, P. Hariharan, �??Low-coherence interference microscopy using a ferro-electric liquid crystal phase-modulator,�?? Opt. Express 12, 2512-2516 (2004), <a href="http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=OPEX-12-11-2512">http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=OPEX-12-11-2512</a>. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. P. Hariharan, P. E. Ciddor, M. Roy, �??Improved switchable achromatic phase shifters 2,�?? Opt. Eng. accepted.
8. T. H. Chyba, L. J. Wang, L. Mandel and R. Simon, �??Measurement of the Pancharatnam phase for a light beam,�?? Opt. Lett. 13, 562-564 (1988). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. P. Hariharan and M. Roy, �??White-light phase-stepping interferometry: measurement of the fractional interference order,�?? J. Mod. Opt. 42, 2357-2360 (1995). [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

• B. S. Lee and T. C. Strand, �??Profilometry with a coherence scanning microscope,�?? Appl. Opt. 29, 3784-3788 (1990). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Mod. Opt.

• P. Hariharan and M. Roy, �??White-light phase-stepping interferometry for surface profiling,�?? J. Mod. Opt. 41, 2197-2201 (1994). [CrossRef]
• P. Hariharan and M. Roy, �??White-light phase-stepping interferometry: measurement of the fractional interference order,�?? J. Mod. Opt. 42, 2357-2360 (1995). [CrossRef]

Opt Lett.

• S. S. C. Chim and G. S. Kino, �??Correlation microscope,�?? Opt Lett. 15, 579-581 (1990). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Eng.

• P. Hariharan, P. E. Ciddor, M. Roy, �??Improved switchable achromatic phase shifters 2,�?? Opt. Eng. accepted.
• P. Hariharan and P. E. Ciddor, �??Improved switchable achromatic phase shifters,�?? Opt. Eng. 38, 1078-1080 (1999). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• M. Roy, C. J. R. Sheppard, P. Hariharan, �??Low-coherence interference microscopy using a ferro-electric liquid crystal phase-modulator,�?? Opt. Express 12, 2512-2516 (2004), <a href="http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=OPEX-12-11-2512">http://www.opticsexpress.org/abstract.cfm?URI=OPEX-12-11-2512</a>. [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lasers Eng.

• M. Roy, P. Svahn, L. Cherel, and C. J. R. Sheppard, �??Geometric phase-shifting for low-coherence interference microscopy,�?? Opt. Lasers Eng. 37, 631-641 (2002). [CrossRef]

Opt. Lett.

• T. H. Chyba, L. J. Wang, L. Mandel and R. Simon, �??Measurement of the Pancharatnam phase for a light beam,�?? Opt. Lett. 13, 562-564 (1988). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

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