Diffraction efficiency
When light passes by objects or through tiny openings like a small hole, it can change direction and spread out. Diffraction efficiency is the measure of how much light changes direction and how much of that changed light is properly directed towards a specific target.
Imagine you are playing with toy cars and want to see how many of them can pass through a small tunnel. If you just let all the cars go at once, some may not fit through the tunnel or crash into each other. But if you let them go one by one and adjust their direction carefully, you can ensure more cars make it through the tunnel without any accidents.
Similarly, in optics, diffraction efficiency means adjusting the path of light waves so that more light passes through a specific target, like a lens or screen. The efficiency depends on the size and shape of the object the light is passing through, as well as the wavelength (color) of the light.
Scientists and engineers use diffraction efficiency to design and optimize optical systems, from eyeglasses to telescopes to high-tech sensors. It helps them achieve better imaging or detection capabilities, by directing as much light as possible towards the desired outcome while minimizing loss or distortion.
Imagine you are playing with toy cars and want to see how many of them can pass through a small tunnel. If you just let all the cars go at once, some may not fit through the tunnel or crash into each other. But if you let them go one by one and adjust their direction carefully, you can ensure more cars make it through the tunnel without any accidents.
Similarly, in optics, diffraction efficiency means adjusting the path of light waves so that more light passes through a specific target, like a lens or screen. The efficiency depends on the size and shape of the object the light is passing through, as well as the wavelength (color) of the light.
Scientists and engineers use diffraction efficiency to design and optimize optical systems, from eyeglasses to telescopes to high-tech sensors. It helps them achieve better imaging or detection capabilities, by directing as much light as possible towards the desired outcome while minimizing loss or distortion.