| edurant.com > Papers > Three-Dimensional Beam Spreading with a Cylindrical Lens |
Eric Alan Durant
Physics and Chemistry Department
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI, USA
Project Advisor:
Dr. A. James Mallmann
Tuesday 19 May 1998
An algorithmic solution to the general problem of a light ray entering a cylindrical lens, undergoing refraction at two surfaces, and then exiting, is developed. The algorithm is used to predict projection patterns and other characteristics of a laser beam passing through a tilted cylindrical lens and being projected onto a flat screen. An interactive software program with graphing capabilities that allows a user to experiment with the model is presented.