Mach-Zehnder based Rotational Shearing Interferometer for Non-destructive Testing using Spatial Phase-Shifting Shearography
Abstract
This work introduces a novel optical setup based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, enabling spatial phase shifting shearography with rotational shear. The optical concept employs a virtual double slit configuration, which decouples the adjustment of the shear amount from the generation of the spatial carrier frequency, thereby enabling flexible control of the measurement sensitivity. Rotational shear is generated within the optical setup by means of image rotation using Dove prisms. Since the proposed system is based on spatial phase shifting shearography, full field measurements can be performed at the camera frame rate, making the method suitable for fast non destructive testing under industrial conditions. In contrast to conventional linear shear configurations, the rotational shear approach is sensitive to tangential displacement gradients around the centre of rotation. In this paper, the proposed rotational shear approach is compared with linear shear configurations, with the results demonstrating reliable detection of relevant defects. Spatial phase shifting shearography combined with rotational shear offers significant potential for industrial non destructive testing applications, particularly in sealing technology and for the inspection of rotationally symmetric components.
Versions
Related
- Rotational symmetry and common-mode phase drift in a counter-wound S-shaped Aharonov--Bohm interferometer
- Design and Monte Carlo simulation of a phase grating moiré neutron interferometer to measure the gravitational constant
- Offset-tailored multimode interference in an SMF–HCF–SMF interferometer for axial strain and orientation-dependent curvature sensing
- Destructive interference of second harmonic generation in AA-stacked MoTe 2 /WSe 2
- Quantum Noise from Massive Lorentz--Violating Gravitons: Interferometer Signatures in Very Special Linear Gravity
BibTeX
@misc{bastgen2026machzehnder,
title = {{Mach-Zehnder based Rotational Shearing Interferometer for Non-destructive Testing using Spatial Phase-Shifting Shearography}},
author = {Valentin-Johannes Bastgen and Michael Schuth and Georg von Freymann},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2605.31087},
eprint = {2605.31087},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.31087},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Mach-Zehnder based Rotational Shearing Interferometer for Non-destructive Testing using Spatial Phase-Shifting Shearography
AU - Valentin-Johannes Bastgen
AU - Michael Schuth
AU - Georg von Freymann
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/29
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2605.31087
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.31087
AB - This work introduces a novel optical setup based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, enabling spatial phase shifting shearography with rotational shear. The optical concept employs a virtual double slit configuration, which decouples the adjustment of the shear amount from the generation of the spatial carrier frequency, thereby enabling flexible control of the measurement sensitivity. Rotational shear is generated within the optical setup by means of image rotation using Dove prisms. Since the proposed system is based on spatial phase shifting shearography, full field measurements can be performed at the camera frame rate, making the method suitable for fast non destructive testing under industrial conditions. In contrast to conventional linear shear configurations, the rotational shear approach is sensitive to tangential displacement gradients around the centre of rotation. In this paper, the proposed rotational shear approach is compared with linear shear configurations, with the results demonstrating reliable detection of relevant defects. Spatial phase shifting shearography combined with rotational shear offers significant potential for industrial non destructive testing applications, particularly in sealing technology and for the inspection of rotationally symmetric components.
ER -