Abstract

A distance measuring technique based on caustics formed by illuminating an ellipsoid reflector with a point light source was developed. A study of the influence of the ellipticity of the mirror and the relative positions of the screen where the caustic is formed, the point source, and the mirror on the limits and accuracy of the range measured was undertaken. It was found that the accuracy in measuring a distance may be greater than the accuracy obtained by a direct measurement of the same distance by any conventional method used in measuring the diameter of the caustic on the screen.

© 1977 Optical Society of America

Properties of caustics from conic reflectors. 1: Meridional rays

P. S. Theocaris
Appl. Opt. 16(6) 1705-1716 (1977)

Surface topography by caustics

P. S. Theocaris and E. E. Gdoutos
Appl. Opt. 15(6) 1629-1638 (1976)

Optical Stress Rosette Based on Caustics

P. S. Theocaris
Appl. Opt. 12(2) 380-387 (1973)

Some further properties of caustics useful in mechanical applications

P. S. Theocaris and D. Pazis
Appl. Opt. 20(23) 4009-4018 (1981)

Analytical illuminance and caustic surface calculations in geometrical optics

David L. Shealy
Appl. Opt. 15(10) 2588-2596 (1976)