Thomas Young's investigations in gradient-index optics

David A Atchison1, W Neil Charman

  • 1Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia. d.atchison@qut.edu.au

Summary

Thomas Young pioneered gradient-index optics over 50 years before Maxwell, modeling eye lens and atmospheric optics. His work on spherical gradients was confirmed, but axial gradient equations require revision.

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