Conjugate Points


conjugate points

[′kän·jə·gət ′pȯins] (mathematics) For a conic section, two points either of which lies on the line that passes through the points of contact of the two tangents drawn to the conic from the other. (optics) Any pair of points such that all rays from one are imaged on the other within the limits of validity of Gaussian optics. Also known as conjugate foci.

Conjugate Points

 

in optics, a pair of points in an optical system such that if one point represents the object, the other point represents its image. In accordance with the principle of reversibility, the object and image can be interchanged. Strictly speaking, the concept of conjugate points is applicable only in the paraxial regions of ideal (nonaberrational) optical systems (seePARAXIAL RAYS). The concept, however, is often used as an approximation in real systems.