Optical Path

optical path

[′äp·tə·kəl ′path] (optics) For a ray of light traveling along a path between two points, the optical path is the integral, over elements of length along the path, of the refractive index. Also known as optical distance; optical length.

Optical Path

The optical path between points A and B of a transparent medium is the distance optical radiation, or light, would travel in a vacuum during the time it takes to move from A to B. Since the speed of light in any medium is less than in a vacuum, the optical path is always greater than the distance actually traversed by the light except in the limiting case of a vacuum, where the optical path is equal to the distance traversed.

The trajectory of a light beam in an optical system consisting of ρ homogeneous media is a broken line. In such a system the optical path is equal to [com] Σ^p/_kn_k, where l_k is the distance traveled by the light in the kth medium (k = 1,2,…,p),n_k is the refractive index of the medium, and Σ is the summation sign. For one medium (p = 1), the sum is reduced to a single term l_n. In an optically inhomogeneous medium with a smoothly changing n, the trajectory of a beam is a curve. The optical path in such a medium is [com] ∫_A^Bn(l) dl, where dl is an infinitely small element of the beam trajectory.

The concept of optical path plays a major role in optics, especially geometrical and crystal optics, because it makes possible comparison of the paths traversed by light in media in which the rate of propagation differs. The locus of points for which the optical paths, reckoned from the same source, are identical is called the surface of the light wave; light oscillations on this surface are in the same phase.

REFERENCES

Landsberg, G. S. Optika, 4th ed. Moscow, 1957. (Obshchii kurs fiziki, vol. 3.)
Tudorovskii, A. I. Teoriia opticheskikh priborov, 2nd ed., part 1. Moscow-Leningrad, 1948.
Born, M, and E. Wolf. Osnovy optiki, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1973. (Translated from English.)

line of position (LOP)

Aircraft flying from O to P obtains a bearing of 045° from A. Its position lies anywhere along the line AB.In air navigation, a line along which an aircraft is known to be traveling and which may be utilized to establish a position or a fix. This line can be straight or curved, depending on the source of information: a true bearing from a mountain peak will be a straight line of positions; the distance from an object will be a circle of radius equal to that distance. Two or more LOPs are required to establish a fix.
line of sight
i. The straight line between two points. This line is in the plane of the great circle but does not follow the contour of the earth. Radar and some forms of radio waves are capable of being received in the line of sight.
ii. The straight line between the eye of an observer and the observed object or point. Also called an optical path.
iii. In radio, a direct propagation path that does not go below the radio horizon.

单词	optical path
释义	Optical Path optical path [′äp·tə·kəl ′path] (optics) For a ray of light traveling along a path between two points, the optical path is the integral, over elements of length along the path, of the refractive index. Also known as optical distance; optical length. Optical Path The optical path between points A and B of a transparent medium is the distance optical radiation, or light, would travel in a vacuum during the time it takes to move from A to B. Since the speed of light in any medium is less than in a vacuum, the optical path is always greater than the distance actually traversed by the light except in the limiting case of a vacuum, where the optical path is equal to the distance traversed. The trajectory of a light beam in an optical system consisting of ρ homogeneous media is a broken line. In such a system the optical path is equal to [com] Σ^p/_kn_k, where l_k is the distance traveled by the light in the kth medium (k = 1,2,…,p),n_k is the refractive index of the medium, and Σ is the summation sign. For one medium (p = 1), the sum is reduced to a single term l_n. In an optically inhomogeneous medium with a smoothly changing n, the trajectory of a beam is a curve. The optical path in such a medium is [com] ∫_A^Bn(l) dl, where dl is an infinitely small element of the beam trajectory. The concept of optical path plays a major role in optics, especially geometrical and crystal optics, because it makes possible comparison of the paths traversed by light in media in which the rate of propagation differs. The locus of points for which the optical paths, reckoned from the same source, are identical is called the surface of the light wave; light oscillations on this surface are in the same phase. REFERENCES Landsberg, G. S. Optika, 4th ed. Moscow, 1957. (Obshchii kurs fiziki, vol. 3.) Tudorovskii, A. I. Teoriia opticheskikh priborov, 2nd ed., part 1. Moscow-Leningrad, 1948. Born, M, and E. Wolf. Osnovy optiki, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1973. (Translated from English.) line of position (LOP) Aircraft flying from O to P obtains a bearing of 045° from A. Its position lies anywhere along the line AB.In air navigation, a line along which an aircraft is known to be traveling and which may be utilized to establish a position or a fix. This line can be straight or curved, depending on the source of information: a true bearing from a mountain peak will be a straight line of positions; the distance from an object will be a circle of radius equal to that distance. Two or more LOPs are required to establish a fix. line of sight i. The straight line between two points. This line is in the plane of the great circle but does not follow the contour of the earth. Radar and some forms of radio waves are capable of being received in the line of sight. ii. The straight line between the eye of an observer and the observed object or point. Also called an optical path. iii. In radio, a direct propagation path that does not go below the radio horizon.
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