A reference-free wavefront reconstruction technique based on the Talbot sensor under
Gaussian beam illumination is discussed in the paper. Since pit images
are formed in several sequential planes due to the Talbot effect, it
allows us to reconstruct the wavefront on the basis of two object
self-images in nearby planes without any reference. Simulation results
of the reference-free reconstruction of a defocus aberration of
optical waves have been compared with the classical
Talbot-sensor-based approaches. Additionally, the reconstruction error
from the self-image of the gratings and the proposed reconstruction
procedure that allows us to decrease wavefront estimation error
are analyzed.