Generalized analysis of shearing interferometers as applied for gas dynamic studies.

Shearing interferometers are classified as instruments in which interference is produced between rays that are sheared in the test object by a small lateral distance. When applied to gas dynamic investigations these interferometers respond to changes of the gradient of the gas density in the test field. A generalized first-order analysis is described that applies to all arrangements of such shearing interferometers and emphasizes the application for the study of compressible gas flows.