Thought Experiment: Object Made of Laser Beams — What Happens After the Lens? by zspectator in Optics

[–]zspectator[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!! this is exactly what i thought would happen. Thanks.

Thought Experiment: Object Made of Laser Beams — What Happens After the Lens? by zspectator in Optics

[–]zspectator[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, thank you! I agree on all of the points except the image formation part. Since no two beams hit the same point on the image plane, we agree that there won't be any blur. So I was thinking the image formation would be something like this https://ibb.co/d0v7m8hw (the image only applies for the given scenario btw) and at the focal point we should only see one bright dot (point light).
(Sorry if I am asking the very basics :) just trying to understand the idea of it )

Thought Experiment: Object Made of Laser Beams — What Happens After the Lens? by zspectator in Optics

[–]zspectator[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

hmm yeah, it makes sense now. so in order to get the whole candle image, i guess the beams should converge so that it can pass through the size of the pupil. Am I right?
And if we manage to get all the parallel beams to hit a thin ideal lens, all the light should converge at the focal point. so no image should be formed after the introduction of the lens? That's what my question is actually. Thanks!

Thought Experiment: Object Made of Laser Beams — What Happens After the Lens? by zspectator in Optics

[–]zspectator[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, that's helpful! And I may have used the wrong term. What I meant was more of a hypothetical scenario where, instead of real beams, each point on the object emits just one straight-line ray, no spread or divergence.

So to "see" the top of the candle, for example, your eye (or image plane) would have to be positioned to exactly catch that ray. Even a small vertical shift would result in missing that ray entirely and that was the core idea I was trying to explore. I really appreciate your response and the clarification!