spherical aberration

noun

1. variation in focal length of a lens or mirror from center to edge, due to its spherical shape.

spherical aberration

noun

1. physics a defect of optical systems that arises when light striking a mirror or lens near its edge is focused at different points on the axis to the light striking near the centre. The effect occurs when the mirror or lens has spherical surfaces See also aberration

spherical aberration

/ sfîr′ĭ-kəl /

1. See under aberration

Word History and Origins

Origin of spherical aberration¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

A lens in which the spherical aberration is corrected is said to be aplanatic.

From Project Gutenberg

This combination largely overcame the spherical aberration, and it gained immediate fame as the "Wollaston doublet."

From Project Gutenberg

Huyghens also invented the compound eye-piece that bears his name, made of two convex lenses to diminish spherical aberration.

From Project Gutenberg

Now there are evidently two methods of destroying or correcting spherical aberration, viz.

From Project Gutenberg

And the correction is produced by the same plano-concave lens as that which corrects the spherical aberration.

From Project Gutenberg