Focus (optics)

In geometrical optics, a focus, also called an image point, is a point where light rays originating from a point on the object converge. Although the focus is conceptually a point, physically the focus has a spatial extent, called the blur circle. This non-ideal focusing may be caused by aberrations of the imaging optics. In the absence of significant aberrations, the smallest possible blur circle is the Airy disc, which is caused by diffraction from the optical system's aperture. Aberrations tend to worsen as the aperture diameter increases, while the Airy circle is smallest for large apertures. An image, or image point or region, is in focus if light from object points is converged almost as much as possible in the image, and out of focus if light is not well converged. The border between these is sometimes defined using a "circle of confusion" criterion. A principal focus or focal point is a special focus: For a lens, or a spherical or parabolic mirror, it is a point onto which collimated light parallel to the axis is focused. Since light can pass through a lens in either direction, a lens has two focal points – one on each side. The distance in air from the lens or mirror's principal plane to the focus is called the focal length. Elliptical mirrors have two focal points: light that passes through one of these before striking the mirror is reflected such that it passes through the other. The focus of a hyperbolic mirror is either of two points which have the property that light from one is reflected as if it came from the other. Diverging (negative) lenses and convex mirrors do not focus a collimated beam to a point. Instead, the focus is the point from which the light appears to be emanating, after it travels through the lens or reflects from the mirror. A convex parabolic mirror will reflect a beam of collimated light to make it appear as if it were radiating from the focal point, or conversely, reflect rays directed toward the focus as a collimated beam.

Ghost imaging using two SPAD array detectors: a parameter study towards the realization of a 3D quantum microscope

Edoardo Charbon, Claudio Bruschini, Paul Mos, Yang Lin

Quantum ghost imaging can be an important tool in making optical measurements. One of the most useful aspects of ghost imaging is the unique ability to correlate two sets of independently collected information. We aim to use the principles of ghost imaging ...

Spie-Int Soc Optical Engineering2024

Ghost imaging using two SPAD array detectors: a parameter study towards the realization of a 3D quantum microscope

Transfer learning application of self-supervised learning in ARPES

Laser engraving device for multiple laser beams using a data link for adjusting the focusing position

Laser engraving device for multiple laser beams using a data link for adjusting the focusing position

Ghost imaging using two SPAD array detectors: a parameter study towards the realization of a 3D quantum microscope

Transfer learning application of self-supervised learning in ARPES