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.
6
votes
2answers
698 views
Converting between brilliance, intensity, and flux
This one should be a bit of a softball, but I can't find it explicitly stated anywhere on the internet, and my basic unit analysis doesn't seem to work.
Suppose you have a beam of synchrotron ...
3
votes
2answers
69 views
Mirror image at relativistic speeds
Imagine moving parallel to the surface of a very large flat mirror at relativistic speeds. What would be the effect of viewing yourself in the mirror? At non-relativistic speeds your image would be ...
3
votes
2answers
27 views
Concerning Scattering Intensity and Particle Concentration
I am trying to determine what governs my sensor output. I have an optical sensor that emits infrared radiation on a sample volume and gives me a voltage output from the scattering of (1 to 10 micron) ...
0
votes
2answers
117 views
How to calculate the height and length of a reflected ray?
I barely know anything about optics, so I could use some help about how to go about solving this problem.
If I have a ray of light at a certain height from the optical axis, propagating at an angle, ...
-1
votes
2answers
120 views
Bolometer calibration - voltage and intensity
I am interested in possible hazards due to high intensy infrared light sources. Therefore I want to use the "PASCO TD-8553 radiation sensor" (website) to measure the intensity of the radiation of an ...
4
votes
1answer
157 views
Maximum theoretical bandwidth of fibre-optics
Ignoring hardware at either end and their technological limitations, what is the maximum theoretical bandwidth of fibre optic cables currently in use / being deployed in a FTTH type situations? I ...
4
votes
1answer
92 views
Liouville's theorem and gravitationally deflected lightpaths
It is customary in gravitational lensing problems, to project both the background source and the deflecting mass (e.g. a background quasar, and a foreground galaxy acting as a lens) in a plane.
Then, ...
3
votes
1answer
124 views
How it's possible to enhance the depth effect of 3d pictures without increasing the cameras distance?
I always thought that for a 3d picture, which is in fact 2 pictures that are displayed one for each eye, the more far the cameras are, the more "depth" you will see. And it's a fact i think.
So, for ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Why does the quantum eraser seem to violate energy and momentum conservation?
In the literature of the quantum eraser experiment it is argued that the change in statistics of the system from non-interference to interference is due to the erasing of "distinguishing information". ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
double slit experiment with two opposite quarter waveplates
Consider the usual double slit experiment involving laser and a double slit and a screen. Now place in front of the left slit a quarter waveplate (let's call it QWP1) that changes a certain linear ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Optical element fitting to Jones matrix
I need help with finding out which optical element is this.
I read about Jones matrix and vectors, but this is not one of the standards.
$$
\begin{pmatrix}
1 & i \\
-i & 1\end{pmatrix}
\cdot ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Reflection of a polarised beam
The past days I've been trying to understand how AutoFocus(AF) works on photographic cameras. There is a statement that says AF systems are polarisation sensitive. This means that they can only work ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
How to calculate beam spread of a non-point light source via an aspheric lens
I need to determine the angle, or rate of divergence of light from a single aspheric lens when I place a non-point light source (e.g. LED array) at a given distance from the lens which is less than ...
0
votes
1answer
91 views
How to estimate number of Laue Spot
Why are "Laue Spots" spots instead of rings? Or is there an effective way to estimate the number of Laue spots? I can't find any formulas or theory concerning this issue. Thanks for your attention!
-6
votes
1answer
196 views
Speed of light is not fixed?
In my research, I found that the speed of light is not fixed. IS it true?
Namely, We know that light refracts when the medium it travels through changes. Actually, light travels in the same medium ...
0
votes
0answers
64 views
polarization - quantum point of view
polarization could be easily imagined in classical model: direction of E vector. is there any simple image for polarization of single photon?
0
votes
0answers
104 views
FOV reduction with Fresnel
I have a simple optical system that works based on energy collection. (i.e. I have a photo diode that counts photons). I don't do any imaging. For my application, I need to have a specific FOV and I ...
-2
votes
0answers
26 views
Liquid crystal physics, uniaxial nematics, do director and optical axis point in the same direction?
question relates to the physics of liquid crystals(tried to add liquid-crystal or soft matter physics tag but couldn't find one). Uniaxial nematics are a type of LC. It's easy and convenient to ...
