chromatic aberration

chromatic aberration
the variation of either the focal length or the magnification of a lens system with different wavelengths of light, characterized by prismatic coloring at the edges of the optical image and color distortion within it. Also called chromatism.
[1825-35]

* * *

optics
 colour distortion in an image viewed through a glass lens. Because the refractive index of glass varies with wavelength, every property of a lens that depends on its refractive index also varies with wavelength, including the focal length, the image distance, and the image magnification. The change of image distance with wavelength is known as chromatic aberration, and the variation of magnification with wavelength is known as chromatic difference of magnification, or lateral colour. Chromatic aberration can be eliminated by combining a strong lens of low-dispersion (crown) glass with a weaker lens made of high-dispersion (flint) glass. Such a combination is said to be achromatic. This method of removing chromatic aberration was discovered in 1729 by Chester Hall (Hall, Chester Moor), an English inventor, and it was exploited vigorously in the late 18th century in numerous small telescopes (telescope). Chromatic variation of magnification can be eliminated by achromatizing all the components of a system or by making the system symmetrical about a central diaphragm. Both chromatic aberration and lateral colour are corrected in every high-grade optical system.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chromatic aberration — Chromatic Chro*mat ic, a. [L. chromaticus, Gr. ?, suited for color, fr. ?, ?, color; akin to ? color, ? skin, color of the skin.] 1. Relating to color, or to colors. [1913 Webster] 2. (Mus.) Proceeding by the smaller intervals (half steps or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chromatic aberration — Aberration Ab er*ra tion, n. [L. aberratio: cf. F. aberration. See {Aberrate}.] 1. The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type. The aberration of youth. Hall. Aberrations from… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chromatic aberration — n aberration caused by differences in the refraction of light at different frequencies * * * unequal deviation of light rays of different wavelengths passing through a refractive medium, resulting in fringes of color around the image produced;… …   Medical dictionary

  • chromatic aberration — n. a property of lenses that causes the various colors in a beam of light to be focused at different points, thus causing a margin of colors to appear around the edges of the image …   English World dictionary

  • Chromatic aberration — On top is corner detail in a photograph taken with a higher quality lens; bottom is a similar photograph taken with a wide angle lens showing severe visible lateral chromatic aberration. The effect is pronounced on the right side of the building… …   Wikipedia

  • chromatic aberration — spalvinė aberacija statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. chromatic aberration vok. chromatische Aberration, f rus. хроматическая аберрация, f pranc. aberration chromatique, f …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • chromatic aberration — When using white light through a lens system, it is inevitable that different wave lengths (colours) are brought to a focus at slightly different points. As a consequence, there are chromatic aberrations in the image; good microscope objectives… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • chromatic aberration — noun an optical aberration in which the image has colored fringes • Hypernyms: ↑aberration, ↑distortion, ↑optical aberration …   Useful english dictionary

  • chromatic aberration — noun Date: 1831 aberration caused by the differences in refraction of the colored rays of the spectrum …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • chromatic aberration — noun an optical aberration, in which an image has coloured fringes, caused by differential refraction of light of different wavelengths …   Wiktionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”