the interferometric measuring devices shown in the figures and the measuring method carried out with them are based fundamentally on white light interferometry , a short coherent light source being used . in this context , the electromagnetic radiation in the form of the light is split up via a beam splitter st into an object light path ol and a reference light path rl , and is conducted , on the one hand , to an object o that is to be measured especially with regard to its surface , and to a reference r , on the other hand . the light reflected back by object o and reference r is superimposed at one location of the common light path , and is guided to an pickup element ba or a pickup element of a camera k . all in all , in this manner , object o is imaged via an objective optical system ob , oo and an ocular optical system ok on pickup element ba of camera k . during depth scanning or a depth scan of the object surface , object o remains immobile with respect to objective ob or an optical system oo on the object side . the depth scan takes place , for instance , by the scan of a reference mirror forming reference plane r or by acousto - optical modulators aom , and , in this context , may also be undertaken in a separate modulation interferometer mi . for the measurement , reference plane r traverses the depth range of objective o that is to be measured . objective optical system ob , oo has a given depth of field range for this . if the depth range to be measured is greater than the depth of field range , refocusing is performed using an adaptive optical element aoe . the measurable depth range is therefore independent of the depth of field range . adaptive optical elements ( aoe ) may be implemented by active spatial light modulators such as liquid crystal displays , deformable mirror devices , magneto optic devices or so - called multiple quantum wells ( semiconductor heterostructures . in addition , lenses vl , having a variable focus , are also suitable , which are made up of two immiscible fluids 2 , 3 and which are activated by a stress , or two counterrotating glass plates dg 1 , dg 2 . as is shown in fig1 through 8 , the interferometer may be implemented differently depending on the measuring task , for instance , as a michelson interferometer having a scan of reference r or using acousto - optical modulators aom , as an interferometer having an intermediate image zb of the object in object light path ol , as an interferometer having a panoramic optical system ro for taking a 360 ° peripheral object range or as an interferometer having a modulation interferometer mi and an object interferometer oi , the object interferometer oi being able to be designed as a michelson interferometer or as a common path interferometer , and being able to include optical systems for generating an intermediate image zb or panoramic optical system ro . modulation interferometer mi and object interferometer oi may be connected via a general - diffuse optical system or via an optical fiber optical system fo . going into detail , the white light interferometer shown in fig1 has a light source lq for the emission of short coherent light ( coherence length , for instance , between a few μm and a few hundred μm ) via a sending optical system so onto beam splitter st , using which the light is split into a reference light path rl formed by a reference arm and into object light path ol formed by an object arm , and is directed , on the one hand , to reference plane r , such as a mirror , and , on the other hand , to the surface of object o . the light reflected by reference plane r and object plane o is , for example , superposed on beam splitter st or in the further course of the light path leading to pickup element ba , and is analyzed in camera k or possibly an evaluation device ae connected to it or integrated into it , and is processed , in order to evaluate the measured data of the object surface , such as with respect to roughness . adaptive optical element aoe , in this connection , is situated between pickup element ba and an ocular ok connected before the former , so that , using adaptive optical element aoe , a sharp image is ensured , even if scanning range lying in the depth direction ( z direction ) exceeds the depth of field of objective optics ob , oo . in this exemplary embodiment , the depth scanning is undertaken by moving reference r in the depth direction t , corresponding to the arrow . furthermore , various positions 1 , 2 , 3 are shown in the region of the receiving optics eo , in which adaptive optical element aoe may alternatively be situated , or where there may be additional adaptive optical elements aoe . in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig2 of the white light interferometer , an acousto - optical modulator aom is applied in reference light path rl , using which the length of reference light path rl is able to be changed alternatively or in addition to the movement of reference r for depth scanning t . fig3 and 4 show exemplary embodiments of the white light interferometer in which one or more intermediate images zb are generated in object light path ol . via these intermediate images , a relatively large surface area may be scanned , even , for example in narrow , deep hollow spaces , there being the additional advantage that a surface , lying at an angle or formed differently , is first imaged in a planar manner , and then the plane intermediate image zb is able to be scanned in a relatively simple fashion . according to fig4 , panoramic optical system rs is provided to object light path ol for recording a region running around by 360 ° of the object surface . such structural parts having intermediate imaging are explained in greater detail in documents german patent documents nos . 100 47 495 a1 , 101 31 778 a1 and 101 15 524 a1 mentioned at the outset , so that with reference to these specialties , we refer to these documents . in the present instance , using one or more acousto - optical elements aoe , imaging on pickup element ba may be improved , and a more accurate measurement may be undertaken , as was described in the above considerations . fig5 , 6 a and 6 b show various exemplary embodiments of the white light interferometer , having a modulation interferometer mi and an object interferometer oi , according to fig5 and 6a , the light coupling between the two partial interferometers taking place via a general - diffuse optical system , and in the exemplary embodiment as in fig6 b via fiber optics fo . in fig6 a and 6b , the reference light path is formed in the object arm , whereby the aforementioned common path system comes about . in modulation interferometer mi , first an optical path difference is generated of the light guided into the two interferometer arms using beam splitter mst of modulation interferometer mi , and reflected therein using reflecting elements ms 1 , ms 2 , which is greater than the coherence length . this light is then guided out via beam splitter mst of modulation interferometer mi and conducted to beam splitter st of object interferometer oi , and , in object interferometer oi , is conducted via reference light path rl , on the one hand , and object light path ol , on the other hand , and is subsequently supplied to pickup element ba and camera k for further processing , reference light path rl and object light path ol being designed in such a way that the optical path difference generated in modulation interferometer mi is set back and interfering light is obtained for the evaluation . in this instance , the depth scanning is done , for example by the displacing of reflecting optical element ms 2 in modulation interferometer mi . more detailed statements on such a construction are made , for instance , in german patent documents nos . 101 31 778 a1 and 100 47 495 a1 that were named . in the case at hand , because of the at least one applied adaptive optical element aoe in the manner explained above , the imaging properties , and accordingly the signal evaluation , are improved . in the white light interferometer wi shown in fig7 , in the object side optical system oo , there is an active optical element aoe in a panoramic optical system in front of the surface of object o , and it is , for example , developed as an adaptable lens element . at least one intermediate image zb is generated in object light path ol . in this way , an adaptation to different object surfaces may be made . to compensate for imaging errors , a corresponding adaptive optical element aoe is also situated in reference light path rl , and the reference is formed similar to the object surface . an active optical element is also situated in the light path leading to pickup element ba , for focus adjustment . fig8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a white light interferometer , in which in object light path ol there is an adaptive optical element aoe , which makes possible changing the focal length for setting to two differently deep lying surface areas of object o . in order also to adapt reference light path rl appropriately , it also has in it an adaptive optical element aoe , situated in appropriate fashion . fig9 and 10 show two exemplary embodiments for a adaptive optical element aoe in the form of a lens having variable focal length , according to fig9 , adjustment to various distances taking place and according to fig1 adjustment to different angular apertures taking place , and accordingly , two different lens elements are activated . in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig1 of an active optical element , a lens having a variable focal length is also involved , two immiscible fluids 2 , 3 being contained in it , which , toward the outside , are closed off by a cover 1 , made of glass or plastic ; and a seal 4 , and which are able to be activated for changing the focal length by a stress . fig1 a and 12b show exemplary embodiments for an adaptive optical element aoe that are situated in the upper end of a camera k , fig1 a showing an electrically activatable autofocus lens and fig1 b showing an electrically activatable zoom lens . subsequent pickup element ba may be developed , for instance , in ccd technology or cmos technology . in one additional exemplary embodiment shown in fig1 , of an active optical element aoe , it is formed from two flat slab glasses dg 1 , dg 2 that are rotatable with respect to each other .