A Study of Computer-Aided Geometric Optical Design.

Abstract

Computer-aided geometric optical design was investigated. The definition of terms and optical design procedures were studied. Available computer programs were compared and FALCON was selected. Test problems were evaluated with FALCON to aid in understanding computerized optical design procedures. An 18 inch long optical system with a 50 meter effective focal length was designed for the Air Force Weapons Laboratory. This optical system would image, on a solid state detector, an interference pattern created by two laser beam samples, to allow the two lasers to be locked in phase with each other. The starting point of the design improved until the desired tolerances were met or exceeded. (Author)

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1982
Accession Number
ADA127438

Entities

People

  • Michael J. Wahlstedt

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Curvature
  • Digital Information
  • Distortion
  • Laser Beams
  • Numerical Aperture
  • Refraction
  • Refractive Index
  • Shape
  • Standards
  • Strehl Ratio
  • Transfer Functions
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Geodesy
  • Optical Fiber Sensing and Electromagnetic Propagation.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy