ACMD Seminar: Methods of mathematical physics applied to practical radiometry

Dr. Eric L. Shirley,  Physicist
Sensor Science Division, PML, NIST

Friday, March 31, 2017, 15:00 - 16:00
Building 101, Lecture Room C
Gaithersburg

Friday, March 31, 2017, 13:00 - 14:00
Room 1-4058
Boulder

Abstract: This talk will review various tricks and other mathematical innovations that have made possible the simulation of light propagating through multi-stage optical systems while paying full attention to diffraction effects on the throughput.  These include: (1.) generalization of the Maggi-Rubinowicz treatment of Fresnel diffraction by an aperture to that by a series of apertures, (2.) analysis of asymptotic properties of Wolf’s formula for integrated flux and extension thereof to the spectrally integrated total power in the case of Planck sources, and (3.) application of FFT-based acceleration of convolutions relevant in propagation of light for irregularly spaced grid points.   In addition, an exact calculation synchrotron radiation that is more general than standard treatments that are in general approximate will be presented that makes use of oblate spheroidal coordinate system, Graf’s less well-known addition theorem for Bessel functions, and Olver’s uniform asymptotic expansion for Bessel functions of high order and argument very close in value to the order. 

Speaker Bio: Eric Shirley’s background is in theoretical physics, based on computer modeling and traditional pencil-and-paper analysis.  He specializes in optical properties of materials across the entire electromagnetic spectrum as well as physical optics such as treating the diffraction of light waves as they pass through optical systems and calculation of synchrotron radiation without approximations.  He obtained his PhD in physics in 1991 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  He then did three years of postdoctoral research at U. C. Berkeley as a Miller Fellow and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory before becoming a NIST staff member in 1994. 

Note: Visitors from outside NIST must contact Cathy Graham; (301) 975-3800; at least 24 hours in advance.

Part of the ACMD Seminar Series.