What on earth is a ray and how can we use them best?

G. W. Forbes, M. A. Alonso

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference proceeding contribution

    17 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Although rays form the basis of both our intuitive thinking and our numerical modelling of optical systems, we must remember that they are no more than mathematical constructs with a relatively tenuous connection to the physical world. What's more, certain aspects of their link to wave-based models of optical systems have always been problematic. For example, the limit to what rays can tell us about the associated wave field remains unclear. The current state of the art is reviewed and a framework is then outlined that offers a more direct appreciation of these issues and promises extended capabilities for ray-based methods. The new approach involves modelling wave propagation by using - as an intermediate tool - a windowed Fourier transform of the field.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationInternational optical design conference 1998
    EditorsL. R. Gardner, K. P. Thompson
    PublisherSPIE
    Pages22-31
    Number of pages10
    ISBN (Print)0819429376
    Publication statusPublished - 1998
    Event1998 International Optical Design Conference - KONA
    Duration: 8 Jun 199812 Jun 1998

    Publication series

    NameProceedings of the society of photo-optical instrumentation engineers (SPIE)
    PublisherSPIE
    Volume3482
    ISSN (Print)0277-786X

    Conference

    Conference1998 International Optical Design Conference
    CityKONA
    Period8/06/9812/06/98

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'What on earth is a ray and how can we use them best?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this