Abstract

In the previous two sections of “Flatland optics” [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 17, 1755 (2000); J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 18, 1056 (2001)] we described the basic principles of two-dimensional (2D) optics and showed that a wavelength λ in three-dimensional (3D) space (x, y, z) may appear in Flatland (x, z) as a wave with another wavelength Λ=λ/cos α. The tilt angle α can be modified by a 3D-Spaceland individual, who then is able to influence the 2D optics in a way that must appear to be magical to 2D-Flatland individuals—in the spirit of E. A. Abbott’s science fiction story of 1884 [Flatland, a Romance of Many Dimensions, 6th ed. (Dover, New York, 1952)]. Here we show how the light from a white source can be perceived in Flatland as perfectly monochromatic, so diffraction with white light will be free of color blurring and the contrast of interference fringes can be 100%. The basic considerations for perfectly achromatic diffraction are presented, along with experimental illustration of Talbot self-imaging performed with broadband illumination.

© 2001 Optical Society of America

Flatland optics. II. Basic experiments

Adolf W. Lohmann, Dayong Wang, Avi Pe’er, and Asher A. Friesem
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 18(5) 1056-1061 (2001)

Flatland optics: fundamentals

Adolf W. Lohmann, Avi Pe’er, Dayong Wang, and Asher A. Friesem
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 17(10) 1755-1762 (2000)

Radiometry and wide-angle wave fields III: partial coherence

M. A. Alonso
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 18(10) 2502-2511 (2001)

Precision, accuracy, and range of perceived achromatic transparency

Reza Kasrai and Frederick A. A. Kingdom
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 18(1) 1-11 (2001)

Diffraction of Gaussian and Hermite–Gaussian beams by finite gratings

O. Mata-Mendez and F. Chavez-Rivas
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 18(3) 537-545 (2001)