TRANSVERSE FOCAL REGION OF A SPHERICAL REFLECTOR; PART 1: GEOMETRIC OPTICS

Abstract

The concepts of geometric optics as applied to a spherical reflector are discussed in detail. The caustic surface of a spherical reflector is examined, with particular emphasis on the advantages of complex number notation, and representation in terms of the height of the incoming ray and the arc length along the caustic. The focal region within the caustic curves is studied, and the importance of the circle of least confusion is pointed out. The use of wavefront constructions as an alternate approach is illustrated. The functional relationships are develop5d for the path-length to a field point on a concentric surface in the focal region, its spherical coordinates, and the height of incoming rays. Computations are summarized on graphs. Finally, the relationship between stationary phase and path-length is mentioned.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0603788

Entities

People

  • Geoffrey Hyde
  • Roy C. Spencer

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Angle Of Incidence
  • Complex Numbers
  • Contracts
  • Curvature
  • Diameters
  • Diffraction
  • Equations
  • Geometry
  • Images
  • Mirrors
  • Optics
  • Polarization
  • Reflectors
  • Refraction
  • Symmetry
  • Template Patterns

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Applied Combinatorial Optimization and Logic Circuit Design.
  • Electromagnetic Wave Scattering and Antenna Radiation Engineering
  • Theoretical Analysis.