AUTOCOLLIMATION Meaning and
Definition
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Autocollimation is a term used in optics to describe a method of aligning optical elements or systems. It involves the use of a device called an autocollimator, which is designed to measure small amounts of angular displacement or deviation.
The autocollimator consists of a collimated light source, a lens system, and an eyepiece or detector to observe the reflected beam. When the autocollimator is aimed at a mirror or reflecting surface, the collimated beam is directed back towards the device. By observing the reflected beam, any angular deviation or misalignment of the mirror can be detected.
The principle behind autocollimation is that when the incident beam is parallel to the mirror's surface, the reflected beam returns along the same path, resulting in a sharp image or point of light. However, if the mirror is not perfectly aligned, the reflected beam will deviate from the incident beam, causing the image or point of light to shift to one side. By measuring this shift, the amount of misalignment can be determined.
Autocollimation is commonly used in various applications such as optical alignment, testing and calibration of optical instruments, measurement of small angles or angular displacements, and adjustment of optical systems to obtain optimum performance.
In summary, autocollimation is a technique used in optics that involves the use of an autocollimator to align optical elements or systems by measuring the angular deviation or misalignment of a mirror or reflecting surface.
Common Misspellings for AUTOCOLLIMATION
- zutocollimation
- sutocollimation
- wutocollimation
- qutocollimation
- aytocollimation
- ahtocollimation
- ajtocollimation
- aitocollimation
- a8tocollimation
- a7tocollimation
- aurocollimation
- aufocollimation
- augocollimation
- auyocollimation
- au6ocollimation
- au5ocollimation
- auticollimation
- autkcollimation
- autlcollimation
- autpcollimation
Etymology of AUTOCOLLIMATION
The word "autocollimation" is derived from two Greek roots: "auto", meaning "self", and "collimation", which comes from the Greek word "kollao" meaning "to glue" or "to join together". In optics, "autocollimation" refers to a technique where a source of light is reflected back onto itself by a mirror, in order to measure optical properties or align optical systems. The term was coined in the mid-19th century.
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