Basic Optics and Optical System Specifications

Аннотация

The purpose of virtually all image-forming optical systems is to resolve a specified minimum-sized object over a desired field of view. The field of view is expressed as the spatial or angular extent in object space, and the minimum-sized object is the smallest resolution element which is required to identify or otherwise understand the image. The word “spatial” as used here simply refers to the linear extent of the field of view in the plane of the object. The field of view can be expressed as an angle or alternatively as a lateral size at a specified distance. For example, the field of view might be expressed as 10 х 10°, or alternatively as 350x350 m at a distance of 2 km, both of which mean the same thing.