Fresnel diffraction theory

E23939

optics theory physical theory wave optics framework

Fresnel diffraction theory is a wave-optics framework that describes how light diffracts when source or observation distances are finite, using near-field approximations derived from the Huygens–Fresnel principle.

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Observed surface forms (6)

Surface form	Occurrences
Fresnel diffraction	3
Fresnel	1
Fresnel diffraction integral	1
Fresnel transform	1
Fresnel wave theory	1
Fresnel–Poisson diffraction experiment	1

Statements (47)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	optics theory ⓘ physical theory ⓘ wave optics framework ⓘ
appliesTo	intermediate-field diffraction regime ⓘ near-field diffraction regime ⓘ
approaches	Fraunhofer diffraction in far-field limit ⓘ
assumes	monochromatic illumination in basic form ⓘ scalar wave approximation ⓘ
basedOn	Huygens–Fresnel principle ⓘ
category	diffraction theory ⓘ
concerns	interference of secondary wavelets ⓘ
contrastedWith	Fraunhofer diffraction ⓘ surface form: Fraunhofer diffraction theory
describes	diffraction with finite observation distance ⓘ diffraction with finite source distance ⓘ near-field diffraction of light ⓘ
developedFrom	Huygens–Fresnel principle ⓘ surface form: Huygens principle
explains	Fresnel zones ⓘ diffraction by edges and obstacles in near field ⓘ diffraction patterns of apertures at finite distances ⓘ zone plate focusing ⓘ
field	optics ⓘ physics ⓘ
generalizationOf	geometrical optics shadow boundary description ⓘ
historicalPeriod	19th century ⓘ
implementedBy	Fresnel diffraction theory self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: Fresnel transform
mathematicallyFormulatedAs	Fresnel diffraction theory self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: Fresnel diffraction integral
models	complex amplitude distribution in observation plane ⓘ
namedAfter	Augustin-Jean Fresnel ⓘ
notApplicableTo	far-field limit where Fraunhofer diffraction applies ⓘ
relatedConcept	Kirchhoff diffraction theory ⓘ surface form: Rayleigh–Sommerfeld diffraction theory angular spectrum method ⓘ
relatedTo	Fresnel zones ⓘ surface form: Fresnel zone construction Kirchhoff diffraction theory ⓘ
requires	finite propagation distance between aperture and observation plane ⓘ
subfieldOf	physical optics ⓘ wave optics ⓘ
usedIn	X-ray optics ⓘ coherent diffraction imaging ⓘ design of diffractive optical elements ⓘ electron microscopy ⓘ holography ⓘ optical imaging analysis ⓘ propagation-based phase-contrast imaging ⓘ
uses	Fresnel integrals ⓘ complex exponential phase factors ⓘ
usesApproximation	paraxial approximation ⓘ quadratic phase approximation ⓘ

Referenced by (9)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Augustin-Jean Fresnel → familyName → Fresnel diffraction theory ⓘ

this entity surface form: Fresnel

Fresnel zone plates → governedBy → Fresnel diffraction theory ⓘ

subject surface form: Fresnel zone plate

this entity surface form: Fresnel diffraction

Poisson spot → hasDiscoveryContext → Fresnel diffraction theory ⓘ

this entity surface form: Fresnel–Poisson diffraction experiment

Fresnel diffraction theory → implementedBy → Fresnel diffraction theory self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: Fresnel transform

Poisson spot → isRelatedTo → Fresnel diffraction theory ⓘ

this entity surface form: Fresnel diffraction

Augustin-Jean → knownFor → Fresnel diffraction theory ⓘ

subject surface form: Augustin-Jean Fresnel

this entity surface form: Fresnel diffraction

Fresnel diffraction theory → mathematicallyFormulatedAs → Fresnel diffraction theory self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: Fresnel diffraction integral

Huygens–Fresnel principle → relatedTo → Fresnel diffraction theory ⓘ

Mémoire sur la double réfraction → relatedTo → Fresnel diffraction theory ⓘ

this entity surface form: Fresnel wave theory