Statistical analysis of signal-to-noise ratio in interferometric imaging system

A theoretical model of signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) in interferometric imaging system is proposed by means of statistical optics. According to the theoretical model, relations between system’s SNR and parameters are analyzed numerically and some conclusions are drawn. To obtain high SNR, the ratio of signal intensity to noise intensity should be improved, the intensities of reference and test beams should be matched, the number and roughness of optical elements in imaging system should be decreased, and the coherent length of optical field should be about 2 to 5 times the optical path difference between reference and test beams. In order to make SNR higher than 10, the standard deviation of fabrication error of all optical elements in system must be less than one-fourth of wavelength. The t