Airy disk is a term that is commonly used in optics to describe the circular pattern of light that is formed when a point source of light is viewed through a telescope or other optical instrument. This phenomenon is named after the British astronomer George Biddell Airy, who first described it in the 19th century.
Definitions
The Airy disk is the central bright spot that is formed when light passes through a circular aperture or lens. It is a diffraction pattern that is created by the interference of light waves as they pass through the aperture. The size of the Airy disk is dependent on the diameter of the aperture and the wavelength of the light.
Origin
The Airy disk is named after George Biddell Airy, who was an English mathematician and astronomer. He first described the phenomenon in 1835 while studying the diffraction of light through a telescope. Airy was the Astronomer Royal of England from 1835 to 1881 and made significant contributions to the field of optics.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the Airy disk is defined as “a circular diffraction pattern produced by a point source of light viewed through a circular aperture.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “a bright central spot surrounded by a series of concentric rings, produced when light passes through a small circular aperture.”
Associations
The Airy disk is associated with the field of optics and is used to describe the quality of optical instruments such as telescopes and microscopes. It is also used in astronomy to describe the resolution of telescopes and the ability to distinguish between two closely spaced objects.
Synonyms
The Airy disk is also known as the Airy pattern, Airy spot, and diffraction pattern.
Antonyms
There are no specific antonyms for the Airy disk, as it is a unique phenomenon that is not easily replicated.
The same root words
The term “Airy” is derived from the Latin word “aerius,” which means “airy” or “ethereal.” The word “disk” comes from the Greek word “diskos,” which means “a circular object.”
Example Sentences
- The Airy disk is a crucial factor in determining the resolution of a telescope.
- The microscope’s Airy pattern was clear and well-defined.
- The Airy spot was surrounded by a series of concentric rings.
- The diffraction pattern created by the Airy disk is a result of the interference of light waves.