Webinar: The Autostigmatic Microscope and Its Uses

This webinar with Robert Parks is presented by the OSA Systems and Instrumentation Technical Group.

Topics discussed include the evolution of the classical autostigmatic microscope (ASM) into an all-purpose optical alignment tool whose use has been described in over 60 optical engineering papers that illustrate real-world systems applications.

The evolution that led to the current instrument, the Point Source Microscope or PSM, is due to a convergence in technologies of solid state light sources, digital cameras, modest cost computers and software to operate these devices to create a small, lightweight and ergonomic optical test instrument with many functions.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THE WEBINAR:

• Viewers will learn the fundamentals of autostigmatic microscopes and how they are used to find the radius of curvature of optical surfaces. This background into fundamentals leads to discussing the use of the ASM in practical alignment situations.
• Viewers will be presented with a variety of applications of the ASM to the alignment of optical systems, particularly applications that include aspheres and folded optics to give an appreciation for the capabilities of this technology.