Optical aberration
Optical Aberration
Optical aberration (pronunciation: /ɒpˈtɪkəl æbəˈreɪʃən/) is a distortion in the image formed by an optical system that causes light from one point of an object to be spread out over a small region in the image. This term is derived from the Latin word 'aberratio', meaning 'deviation' or 'error'.
Types of Optical Aberration
There are several types of optical aberrations, including:
- Spherical Aberration: This occurs when light rays from a point of an object pass through different parts of a lens and do not converge at a single point.
- Chromatic Aberration: This is caused by the dispersion of the lens material, the variation of its refractive index with the wavelength of light.
- Coma: This is an off-axis aberration that makes an image look like a comet.
- Astigmatism: This is caused when a lens or a mirror has different focal lengths in different planes.
- Field Curvature: This is the inability of a lens to form a flat image from a flat object.
- Distortion: This is a deviation from rectilinear projection, a projection in which straight lines in a scene remain straight in an image.
Causes of Optical Aberration
Optical aberrations are caused by the imperfect design or manufacture of lenses or mirrors, or by the misalignment of the elements of an optical system. They can also be caused by the variation of the refractive index of the medium through which light travels.
Correction of Optical Aberration
The correction of optical aberrations is a major part of the design of optical systems. This can be achieved by using multiple elements with different shapes and materials, by adjusting the alignment of the elements, or by using wavefront correction techniques.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Optical aberration
- Wikipedia's article - Optical aberration
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