Plotting Intensity in Airy Pattern of Telescope - 1D

In summary, the Airy pattern is a diffraction pattern produced by a circular aperture in the focal plane of a telescope. The intensity in this pattern is typically plotted as a function of distance from the central bright spot and is affected by factors such as aperture size, wavelength of light, and atmospheric conditions. In a 1D plot, the intensity is visualized along a single axis, providing insight into how it changes with distance from the center. This plotting is significant in understanding the diffraction effects and optimizing telescope design and performance.
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theneedtoknow
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How would I come up with an equation (in one dimention), for the airy pattern of a telescope with a given diameter observing at a given wavelength? something that looks like this
[URL]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Airy_Pattern.svg[/URL]
I want to be able to plot Intensity in the image versus the angle from the normal, in one dimension.
 
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Related to Plotting Intensity in Airy Pattern of Telescope - 1D

1. What is the Airy pattern of a telescope?

The Airy pattern is the diffraction pattern produced by a circular aperture in the focal plane of a telescope. It is characterized by a central bright spot surrounded by concentric rings of decreasing intensity.

2. How is the intensity in the Airy pattern of a telescope plotted?

The intensity in the Airy pattern is typically plotted as a function of the distance from the central bright spot, with the intensity decreasing as the distance increases.

3. What factors affect the intensity in the Airy pattern of a telescope?

The intensity in the Airy pattern is affected by the size of the aperture, the wavelength of light, and the focal length of the telescope. Additionally, atmospheric conditions and imperfections in the telescope's optical system can also have an impact on the intensity.

4. How does the intensity in the Airy pattern change in a 1D plot?

In a 1D plot, the intensity in the Airy pattern is plotted along a single axis, typically the distance from the central bright spot. This allows for a visualization of how the intensity changes as the distance increases from the center.

5. What is the significance of plotting intensity in the Airy pattern of a telescope?

Plotting the intensity in the Airy pattern allows us to understand the diffraction effects caused by the telescope's aperture and how they affect the quality of the images produced. It is an important tool for optimizing telescope design and performance.

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