Principles of Optical Lenses
Optical Lenses are the optical components that make up the basic building blocks of many common optical devices, including cameras, binoculars, microscopes and telescopes. Lenses are essentially light control elements and are therefore used for light gathering and imaging. Curved mirrors and lenses can accomplish many of the same things in terms of light collection and image formation. However, lenses tend to be superior for imaging because they are transparent, which allows light to be transmitted directly along the axis to the detector, whereas mirrors require off-axis geometry. Mirrors are often preferred for light gathering because they can be manufactured to be much lighter than lenses, thus allowing for larger diameters and light gathering capabilities. This section discusses the refraction mechanisms that form the basis of lens operation, the issues that affect their performance, and the different lens types. Refraction In addition to light reflected from a flat interface be