ABSTRACT

Lenses, mirrors, and prisms are the basic optical components that are used in optical systems over a wide range of applications from deep ultraviolet to far infrared. The applications could range from classic telescopy and microscopy to electronic and electro-optical systems and devices. Usually, an optical system will have many lenses to obtain an aberration-free image and prisms to fold or to change the orientation of the image. Optical systems may also involve the use of mirrors to fold the rays to make the system compact. The proper combination of lenses, prisms, and mirrors will only result in a quality optical system. In this entry, the basic lens and different lenses used for various applications such as photography, telescopy, microscopy, night vision, and some special lens systems have been described. Some of the mirrors are also described as a part of the lenses. Special mirrors are described separately. In the last part, dispersing prisms, prisms for changing the image orientation, and polarization-changing prisms are described.