mirror lens
Quick Summary
A mirror lens, also known as a catadioptric system, uses curved mirrors to form images. This technique, commonly employed in astronomical telescopes, allows for long focal lengths within a compact design by folding the light path. Unlike lenses, mirror lenses do not suffer from chromatic aberrations, though other optical imperfections are corrected by incorporating lens elements. A key challenge in mirror lens design is controlling light transmission, as traditional diaphragms are difficult to implement due to the central opening in the primary mirror. These systems are valuable for creating high-quality images, especially in applications requiring long focal lengths where lenses might be impractical.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
