Math 2.0

Optics, electromagnetic theory Definition

Nonimaging optics

Builds on Geometric opticsEtendueRefractive index

Definition

In geometrical optics, let a source and a target be given as sets of rays, each ray described by a point and a direction. Nonimaging optics is the design of optical systems that send the rays of the source to the target with optimal transfer of light. The quantity to optimise is the fraction of the source light reaching the target, or the distribution of light over the target. No condition is imposed that rays from one source point meet at one image point. The geometric concentration of a concentrator is C=Ain/AoutC = A_{\mathrm{in}} / A_{\mathrm{out}}, the ratio of the area of its entrance aperture to the area of its exit aperture.

Remarks

Conservation of etendue bounds the concentration. Let a three-dimensional concentrator accept all rays within a half-angle θ\theta and deliver them into a medium of refractive index nn. Then C≤n2/sin⁡2θC \le n^2 / \sin^2 \theta; in two dimensions the bound is C≤n/sin⁡θC \le n / \sin \theta. Example: the two-dimensional compound parabolic concentrator, made of two tilted parabolic arcs, accepts all rays within θ\theta of its axis and attains C=1/sin⁡θC = 1 / \sin\theta in air. Non-example: a camera lens is designed so that the rays from each object point meet at one image point; this imaging condition is exactly what nonimaging design drops.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 4 pages in order. The foundations come first.

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Etendue, concept, no evidence levelEtendueconceptGeometric optics, concept, no evidence levelGeometric opticsconceptRefractive index, concept, no evidence levelRefractive indexconceptNonimaging optics, definition, no evidence levelNonimaging opticsdefinition
Each page uses the pages above it. The colour of the bar on a box shows how strong the evidence is, and the box also gives it as text. The list has the same pages.
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  1. Etendue concept
  2. Geometric optics concept
  3. Refractive index concept
  4. Nonimaging optics definition

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonimaging_optics
About this page
Tag18QJZC7J8T
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Kinddefinition
WritingW0 stub
MSC78A05, 78A55
DefinesNonimaging optics
UsesGeometric optics, Etendue, Refractive index
Changed3 November 2026

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