An analytic expression is obtained for the output of the phase-sensitive detector. Derivatives of the output are also given. Factors that might degrade an observation are noted, such as the blurring of an astronomical object due to atmospheric ″seeing″ . Reference is given to the use of this formalism to optimize and observation of the solar diameter to minimize the effects of atmospheric seeing. An example is also given that illustrates a further attempt to use this technique to minimize the sensitivity of these observations to solar oscillations.