It is generally acknowledged that it takes at least three phase-stepped speckle patterns to obtain quantitative phase information. However, if only a phase change has to be determined, a two-bucket approach can be followed, under certain conditions. The background of the two-bucket algorithm, and the requirements with respect to the use of it, are explained. Examples of modeled and measured phase stepped speckle intensity data, showing numerical instability when conditions are not met are presented. It is also shown that two phase-stepped speckle pattern pairs, taken before and after an event can be sufficient to determine phase changes invoked by the event.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.