Optical axis (coincides with red ray) and rays symmetrical to optical axis (pair of blue and pair of green rays) propagating through different lenses.
In optics, the term optical axis is used to define a direction along which there is some degree of rotational symmetry. Generally speaking an object with rotational symmetry is an object that looks the same after a certain amount of Rotation. It can be used in several contexts:
- In an optical system, the optical axis is an imaginary line that defines the path along which light propagates through the system. For a system composed of simple lenses and mirrors, the axis passes through the center of curvature of each surface, and coincides with the axis of rotational symmetry. A lens is an optical device with perfect or approximate Axial symmetry which transmits and refracts Light, converging or diverging A mirror is an object with a surface that has good Specular reflection; that is it is smooth enough to form an Image. Generally speaking an object with rotational symmetry is an object that looks the same after a certain amount of Rotation. The optical axis is often coincident with the system's mechanical axis, but not always, as in the case of off-axis optical systems. An off-axis optical system is an optical system in which the Optical axis of the Aperture is not coincident with the mechanical center of the aperture
- In an uniaxial birefringent material, the optical axis is the axis of optical anisotropy. The index ellipsoid is a diagram of an Ellipsoid that depicts the orientation and relative magnitude of Refractive indices in a Crystal. Birefringence, or double refraction, is the decomposition of a ray of Light into two rays (the ordinary ray and the extraordinary ray
- For an optical fiber, the optical axis is along the center of the fiber core, and is also known as the fiber axis. An optical fiber (or fibre) is a Glass or Plastic fiber that carries Light along its length
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References
In Optics, a ray is an idealized narrow Beam of light. Rays are used to model the propagation of Light through an optical system by dividing the real light The cardinal points and the associated cardinal planes are a set of special points and planes in an optical system which help in the analysis Federal Standard 1037C, entitled Telecommunications Glossary of Telecommunication Terms is a United States Federal Standard issued by the General Services Administration The Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms is a compendium of terminology used by the United States Department of Defense (DODDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic