[Raytrace] Where To Start?

[Ken Bertapelle]

A while back I tried this using John Upton's OSLO-LT file for setting up the
Dahl null test.  I eventually got to the point where I could use the program
and and run through the procedure to do the setup.  And I think I could even
interpret the results correctly.  (I _think_!)

But even at the end of all that I still felt like the monkey who
accidentally manages to type the Ecyclopedia Brittanica.  Something I still
don't really understand is the conceptual basis of it all.  For example, in
the Dahl null test, what are the detailed concepts involved?  What are we
trying to optimize?  What are the meanings of the terms used, such as "error
at the wavefront", "error at the surface", and so on.

I think a discussion of the conceptual framework would be very helpful,
together with a discussion of how raytracing in general helps us set up and
solve optical problems.

BTW, somewhere I have a spreadsheet that I set up that is based on John's
tutorial on the Dahl null test.  It's a detailed description of the
procedure using OSLO-LT.  If others are interested I can make it available.
I don't have a web site so I can't post it myself.

- Ken Bertapelle

> -----Original Message-----
> From: raytrace-admin@blackhole.idcomm.com
> [mailto:raytrace-admin@blackhole.idcomm.com]On Behalf Of Hermit
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 7:51 PM
> Cc: raytrace@blackhole.idcomm.com
> Subject: Re: [Raytrace] Where To Start?
>
>
> "John D. Upton" wrote:
> >
> >
> >      Where do you want to get started on this list?  I don't
> know exactly
> > what level of knowledge already exists, so I am unsure.  What
> do you want
> > to discuss?  One possible starting point is to discuss things
> common to all
> > ray-tracing programs -- or whether there is anything in common.
>
> For many of us, a simple file to look at in a program might help.  Maybe
> pick a program and look at the file and do simple modifications.  A
> simple lens might be a good starting place.  Followed by a reflector.
> Figuring out how/why to set up the original paramaters isn't intuitive
> as I recall.
>
>
>
> --
> Ken Lowther
> Youngstown, Ohio
> http://www.atmsite.org
> http://www.atmsite.org/mailman/listinfo/atmswap
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