6024-0286-01 Transmission Sphere

A transmission sphere is a calibrated optical assembly used with an interferometric test system. Machines and accessories of this class serve as reference optics that shape light emerging from the interferometer into a controlled converging or diverging wavefront suited to the optic under test.

Machines of this class operate by introducing a well-defined reference wavefront into an interferometric measurement path. The transmission sphere expands and conditions the beam so that the light interacting with the test optic can be compared against a known optical reference, producing interference data that correspond to departures from the intended shape or wavefront.

In practical use, the accessory is selected to match the general geometry of the measurement and is aligned with the interferometer and the part under test. The resulting interference pattern is interpreted by the metrology system to separate optical error from nominal curvature or designed power, allowing evaluation of surface figure, transmitted aberration, or alignment-related effects depending on the test configuration.

Transmission spheres are generally used for interferometric testing of lenses, optical subassemblies, and other precision components that require a controlled test wavefront. Typical applications include surface figure verification, transmitted wavefront measurement, alignment support, and quality control in research, industrial optics, and advanced photonics manufacturing.