Effect Of Defects And Surface Finish On The Performance Of Optical Systems

Stanley Martin

doi:10.1117/12.946349

3 September 1985 Effect Of Defects And Surface Finish On The Performance Of Optical Systems

Stanley Martin

Proceedings Volume 0525, Measurement and Effects of Surface Defects & Quality of Polish; (1985) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.946349
Event: 1985 Los Angeles Technical Symposium, 1985, Los Angeles, United States

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the functional effects of various types of defect found on optical surfaces. For convenience, the defects may be divided into two main types - localised defects such as scratches and distributed or non-localised faults such as scatter from coatings and imperfect polish. These two types need to be considered separately but it is important to assess their relative effects in the image planes of optical systems so as to permit the writing of suitable standards and to avoid the waste of effort due to the inappropriate use of some types of specification. This paper will consider mainly refracting, image forming optical systems operating with incoherent illumination at visible wavelengths. Laser systems are a special case as are reticules and other surfaces lying very close to an image plane. For these systems, particularly stringent defect specifications are required. Cosmetic qualities are very important in the ophthalmic industry but these are not being dealt with here. The glare characteristics of optical systems are considered and the glare contributions from the various kinds of defect are related to the overall glare level. Some attention is given to the existing standards and it is concluded that there are sometimes weaknesses in the current methods of specification. Much more attention should be paid to the effects of the distributed faults, whereas the localised defects often receive far more attention than is warranted by their functional effect.

Citation Download Citation

Stanley Martin "Effect Of Defects And Surface Finish On The Performance Of Optical Systems", Proc. SPIE 0525, Measurement and Effects of Surface Defects & Quality of Polish, (3 September 1985); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.946349

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