Fazendo imagens com um simples elemento difrativo ou refrativo: A axicon

Abstract

In this previously divulgated paper [1] we demonstrate that the light diffracted by a simple compact disc can be used to generate images with interesting basic attributes. We compare this attributes with the ones obtained with refractive elements. A compact disc acts as an axicon that generates a diffraction-free beam and, because the focused position of the image depends on the wavelength of the diffracted light, thus it can be useful as a spectral filter. The experiments are of easy reproduction, allowing the understanding of images that the students observe daily at school or at home. Copyright by the Sociedade Brasileira de Física. Printed in Brazil.