Optics is the study of light, and its interaction with matter. It includes topics such as imaging systems, fiber optics, lasers, quantum optics, and more.
3
votes
2answers
91 views
Gravitational distortion of an object's diameter, at a distance,
Does the curvature of space-time cause objects to look smaller than they really are? What is the relationship between the optical distortion and the mass of the objects?
3
votes
1answer
300 views
Focusing laser & off-axis illumination & diffraction limit
I've thought I had a good understanding how resolution enhancement tricks works for projection lithography, until I tried to understand if it's possible to get sub-diffraction performance for focused ...
2
votes
1answer
289 views
What's the mathematical background to the representation for Gaussian beams?
Background
A general optical system (not necessarily having an axis of
rotational symmetry) can be represented, for small deviations from a base ray,
by the matrix transfer equation,
$$
...
2
votes
5answers
2k views
Focal Point vs where you see the images
I am trying to figure out where is the focal point and where is the image. I read some information online about the point where you see the image is the focal point, but however, my supervisor ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Eikonal approximation for wave optics. Why follow the unit vector parallel to the Pointing vector?
The description of the passage from wave optics to geometrical optics claims that light rays are the integral curves of a certain vector field (the Pointing vector direction, normalized to 1). Here ...
7
votes
2answers
298 views
Fairly Broad Spectrum Light Source Options
I tried this sight before to find filtering options and got fantastic results, so let's try again!
I am setting up an experiment that requires light of two different frequencies (445nm and 350nm). ...
6
votes
2answers
278 views
Where does energy go in destructive interference? [duplicate]
I have read that when two light waves interfere destructively, the energy contained within is transferred to other parts of the wave which have interfered constructively. However, I am having some ...
5
votes
4answers
930 views
Optics of the eye - do we see Fourier transforms?
I've recently been learning about Fourier optics, specifically, that a thin lens can produce the Fourier transform of an object on a screen located in the focal plane.
With this in mind, does the ...
5
votes
2answers
279 views
Photon statistics of an incandescent light source
We usually calibrate the cameras on our microscopes by capturing 20 images of a blurry (not sharp) fluorescent particle. For each pixel in this stack of 20 images we calculate the intensity variance. ...
4
votes
3answers
166 views
Counterpropagating beams in a ring cavity lasers
Ring cavity lasers usually has a intracavity element like a optical diode to forbid standing wave pattern and, consequently, spacial hole burning and related instabilities. So, my question is: why to ...
4
votes
1answer
143 views
Impact of covering glass on lens performance
I've seen microscope lenses optimized for 0.17mm covering glass. I don't see what needs to be optimized here? As glass does not touch the lens (as in case of oil/water immersion) - it should just ...
3
votes
1answer
42 views
Optics, lenses and our eyes
When we view an image, is the focal point of our eye on our retina? Shouldn't that hurt?
Also, if that is how our eye works, then why don't lenses put the focal point their equivalent retina? I was ...
3
votes
1answer
46 views
Linearizing Quantum Operators [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Linearizing Quantum Operators
I was reading an article on harmonic generation and came across the following way of decomposing the photon field operator.
$$ ...
3
votes
3answers
379 views
How bright can we make a sun jar?
A sun jar is an object that stores solar energy in a battery and then releases it during dark hours through a led.
Assume:
a $65cm^2$ solar panel
a 12h/12h light/dark cycle
insolation of ...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
Fraunhofer diffraction simulation for a hexagonal aperture, what are the typical units?
Kostya answered a question that was asking what the diffraction pattern looks like for a hexagonal aperture in front of a lens. He lists an equation which was derived using a Heaviside function to ...
2
votes
2answers
258 views
Mean free path of UV photon
I was wondering if there's a simple way to compute the mean free path of UV photons in a optically thick medium with density n.
I've looked up at the literature ...
2
votes
1answer
506 views
Effects of high frequency lighting on human vision?
I have a couple of different LED flashlights. One of them has three different "modes" of brightness, and the way it controls it is via pulse width modulation (PWM). Here is a picture that illustrates ...
1
vote
3answers
382 views
Why does change in speed of a wave make it refract?
When a light wave enters a medium with a higher refractive index (e.g. from air to standard glass) and its speed decreases, why does that make it refract/bend?
I understand that wavelength decreases ...
1
vote
0answers
118 views
Matlab package: graphical calculus for quantum operations including beam splitters and polarizing beam splitters [duplicate]
I need a matlab package that will make my life easier. I have quantum circuits with optical beam splitters, polarizing beam splitters and photodetectors. These circuits are getting very complicated ...
1
vote
2answers
351 views
Through a lens, which light beam reaches the screen first?
Imagine three light beams are "sent" to a lens simultaneously, they start at the same position but move towards the lens at different angles. The first light beam passes the lens at its edge, the ...
0
votes
1answer
67 views
Is there a formula for determining the focal point of a sphere?
I guess this is the same as for cylinders, when light is shone through parallel to the cross-section, but Google-ing this only turns up lenses like the ones used in glasses.
I'm looking for something ...
0
votes
1answer
184 views
Calculational method for determining surface tensions from photograph of menisci?
How can I get from a photograph of a liquid surface to a value for the surface tension.
0
votes
1answer
156 views
Transmission of Gaussian Beam Through Graded-Index Slab
The $ABCD$ matrix of a glass graded-index slab with refractive index $n(y)=n_0(1-\frac{1}{2}\alpha^{2}y^{2})$ and length $d$ is $A=\cos(\alpha d)$, $B=\frac{1}{\alpha}\sin(\alpha d)$, $C=-\alpha ...
0
votes
1answer
243 views
How does the Fraunhofer irradiance distribution look for a double slit aperture of different lengths?
How does the Fraunhofer irradiance distribution look for a double slit aperture with $d$ = integer multiples of $b$?
0
votes
1answer
396 views
Calculating Kramers-Kronig using Mathematica
First of all, I know there is a Mathematica group in beta, but I don't think the problem of the following is directly a Mathematica issue.
I am trying to calculate the change of the refractive index ...
