A null test is described for a deeply aspheric lens. This test uses a spherical mirror that would be unable to produce enough distortion of the reflected wavefront to compensate for the asphericity of the lens if this were to be tested in air. Immersion of the lens ( $n=1.523$ ) in a small water tank ( $n=1.333$ ) reduces the wavefront distortion produced by the lens to about one-third of its value when in air, which is sufficient to allow compensation. The sensitivity of the test is also reduced by a factor of nearly 3, but this is of little importance in the application described below. It is thought that this use of a water tank may be original.

© 2011 Optical Society of America

1. http://www.perkinelmer.com.
2. http://www.excelitas.com.
3. http://www.rs-components.com.
4. http://www.comaroptics.com.
5. A. Offner, “A null corrector for paraboloidal mirrors,” Appl. Opt. 2, 153–155 (1963). [CrossRef]
6. R. V. Willstrop, “The flat-field Mersenne-Schmidt,” Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 216, 411–427 (1985).
7. R. V. Willstrop, “Atmospheric dispersion compensator for a wide-field three-mirror telescope,” Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 225, 187–198 (1987).
8. G. W. C. Kaye and T. H. Laby, “Radiation and optics,” in Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants, 14th ed., A.E.Bailey, ed. (Longman, 1973), p. 95.
9. D. S. Brown, Grubb-Parsons, Walkergate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK (personal communication, 1984).
10. J. Vos, Comar Instruments, 70 Hartington Grove, Cambridge CB1 7UH, UK (personal communication, 14 March 2011).
11. G. R. Harrison, “Simply constructed ultraviolet monochromators for large area illumination,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 5, 149–152 (1934). [CrossRef]
12. C. Christiansen, “Untersuchungen uber die optischen Eigenschaften von fein vertheilten Korpen. Erste theil,” Ann. Phys. u. Chem. 23, 298–306 (1884). [CrossRef]
13. C. Christiansen, “Untersuchungen uber die optischen Eigenschaften von fein vertheilten Korpen. Zweiter theil,” Ann. Phys. u. Chem. 24, 439–446 (1885). [CrossRef]
14. J. Strong, “Optics: light sources, filters and optical instruments,” in Procedures in Experimental Physics (Prentice-Hall, 1939).
15. D. Malacara, “Appendix 2: Some useful null testing configurations,” in Optical Shop Testing, D.Malacara, ed. (Wiley, 1992).

Brown, D. S.
Christiansen, C.
Harrison, G. R.
Kaye, G. W. C.
Laby, T. H.
Malacara, D.
Offner, A.
Strong, J.
Vos, J.
Willstrop, R. V.

Ann. Phys. u. Chem.

• C. Christiansen, “Untersuchungen uber die optischen Eigenschaften von fein vertheilten Korpen. Erste theil,” Ann. Phys. u. Chem. 23, 298–306 (1884). [CrossRef]
• C. Christiansen, “Untersuchungen uber die optischen Eigenschaften von fein vertheilten Korpen. Zweiter theil,” Ann. Phys. u. Chem. 24, 439–446 (1885). [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

• A. Offner, “A null corrector for paraboloidal mirrors,” Appl. Opt. 2, 153–155 (1963). [CrossRef]

Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.

• R. V. Willstrop, “The flat-field Mersenne-Schmidt,” Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 216, 411–427 (1985).
• R. V. Willstrop, “Atmospheric dispersion compensator for a wide-field three-mirror telescope,” Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 225, 187–198 (1987).

Rev. Sci. Instrum.

• G. R. Harrison, “Simply constructed ultraviolet monochromators for large area illumination,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 5, 149–152 (1934). [CrossRef]

Other

• J. Strong, “Optics: light sources, filters and optical instruments,” in Procedures in Experimental Physics (Prentice-Hall, 1939).
• D. Malacara, “Appendix 2: Some useful null testing configurations,” in Optical Shop Testing, D.Malacara, ed. (Wiley, 1992).
• G. W. C. Kaye and T. H. Laby, “Radiation and optics,” in Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants, 14th ed., A.E.Bailey, ed. (Longman, 1973), p. 95.
• D. S. Brown, Grubb-Parsons, Walkergate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK (personal communication, 1984).
• J. Vos, Comar Instruments, 70 Hartington Grove, Cambridge CB1 7UH, UK (personal communication, 14 March 2011).
• http://www.perkinelmer.com.
• http://www.excelitas.com.
• http://www.rs-components.com.
• http://www.comaroptics.com.

1987, Willstrop, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.
1985, Willstrop, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.
1963, Offner, Appl. Opt.
1934, Harrison, Rev. Sci. Instrum.
1885, Christiansen, Ann. Phys. u. Chem.
1884, Christiansen, Ann. Phys. u. Chem.

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