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Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behaviour and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. [1] Optics usually describes the behaviour of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light.
Euclid began his study of optics as he began his study of geometry, with a set of self-evident axioms. Lines (or visual rays) can be drawn in a straight line to the object. Those lines falling upon an object form a cone. Those things upon which the lines fall are seen. Those things seen under a larger angle appear larger.
Vision of humans and other organisms depends on several organs such as the lens of the eye, and any vision correcting devices, which use optics to focus the image. The eyes of many animals contains a lens that focuses the light of its surroundings onto the retina of the eye. This lens is essential to producing clear images within the eye.
The word 'Photonics' is derived from the Greek word "phos" meaning light (which has genitive case "photos" and in compound words the root "photo-" is used); it appeared in the late 1960s to describe a research field whose goal was to use light to perform functions that traditionally fell within the typical domain of electronics, such as telecommunications, information processing, etc ...
Some argued that Euclid's version of emission theory was purely metaphorical, highlighting mainly the geometrical relations between eyes and objects. The geometry of classical optics is equivalent no matter which direction light is considered to move because light is modeled by its path, not as a moving object. However, his theory of clarity of ...
Optical engineers use the science of optics to solve problems and to design and build devices that make light do something useful. [3] They design and operate optical equipment that uses the properties of light using physics and chemistry , [ 4 ] such as lenses , microscopes , telescopes , lasers , sensors , fiber-optic communication systems ...
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The optical properties of matter are studied in optical physics (a subfield of optics) and applied in materials science. The optical properties of matter include: Refractive index; Dispersion; Transmittance and Transmission coefficient; Absorption; Scattering; Turbidity; Reflectance and Reflectivity (reflection coefficient) Albedo; Perceived ...