Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Symbols, signs and other conventions
- Part I General theory
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Image formation and ray tracing
- 3 Paraxial theory of refracting systems
- 4 Paraxial theory of reflecting optics
- 5 Non-Gaussian optics: Introduction to aberrations
- 6 Simple lens types, lens systems and image formation
- 7 Mirror types and image formation
- 8 Prisms
- 9 Aperture stops and pupils, field lenses and stops
- 10 Defocus, depth-of-field and focussing techniques
- 11 Basic optical metrology
- 12 Photometry of optical systems
- Part II Geometrical optical instruments or systems
- Part III Physical optics and physical optical instruments
- Part IV Ophthalmic instruments
- Part V Aberrations and image quality
- Part VI Visual ergonomics
- Appendices
- Index
7 - Mirror types and image formation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Symbols, signs and other conventions
- Part I General theory
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Image formation and ray tracing
- 3 Paraxial theory of refracting systems
- 4 Paraxial theory of reflecting optics
- 5 Non-Gaussian optics: Introduction to aberrations
- 6 Simple lens types, lens systems and image formation
- 7 Mirror types and image formation
- 8 Prisms
- 9 Aperture stops and pupils, field lenses and stops
- 10 Defocus, depth-of-field and focussing techniques
- 11 Basic optical metrology
- 12 Photometry of optical systems
- Part II Geometrical optical instruments or systems
- Part III Physical optics and physical optical instruments
- Part IV Ophthalmic instruments
- Part V Aberrations and image quality
- Part VI Visual ergonomics
- Appendices
- Index
Summary
Introduction
This chapter deals with the properties of mirrors or reflecting surfaces. Two types of mirrors will be looked at: (a) plane mirrors and (b) curved mirrors. So far, we have tended to concentrate on the paraxial properties of optical systems and therefore looked at such phenomena as image formation in terms of paraxial rays, because these rays are aberration free. When we discuss the properties of plane mirrors, we need not restrict ourselves to paraxial rays because plane mirrors are aberration free and therefore we can use either paraxial or finite rays. However, when we discuss the properties of curved mirrors, these are not free of aberration and therefore we must return to paraxial optics.
Optical systems can be constructed solely of mirrors or reflecting elements and such systems are called catoptric systems. Systems that consist of refracting and reflecting elements are called catadioptric systems. In Chapter 4, we showed how to use paraxial ray tracing to study the properties and image formation in such systems. In this chapter, we will look at the properties of single mirrors and simple mirror systems, starting with plane mirrors.
Plane mirrors
In this section, we will investigate the properties of plane mirrors. These properties are useful in their own right, but are also very useful in understanding the properties of systems of plane mirrors or reflecting surfaces, such as occur in some reflecting prisms, which are discussed in Chapter 8.
The optics of plane mirrors can be analysed using Snell's law. For reflection, Snell's law reduces to the statement that the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.
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- The Eye and Visual Optical Instruments , pp. 157 - 174Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1997