11/24/2023 0 Comments Cell phone diffraction spikes![]() When light hits a strut, the light bends into a single, perpendicular pattern of amplified and cancelled light (represented by a yellow dashed line). In the first row, there is a set of struts organized in a single line. Underneath this is a caption, which describes the graphic below it, and says, “The number and position of struts holding up the secondary mirror determine the struts’ diffraction spike pattern. The fourth section is headlined, “Strut Influence”. The last shows a complex fractal of light and dark regions within eight spikes – the closest representation to Webb’s. The next shows a six-pointed spike pattern with alternating bright and dark regions. ![]() The first displays a diffraction pattern with a solid, bright center and alternating dark and light circles. The last three are labeled, “Image of Point Source”, and display the patterns due to the “Primary Mirror Shape” underneath. The first three are labeled, “Primary Mirror Shape”, which display a circle, square and hexagonal shape, like Webb’s, in white. Light waves interact with those edges to create perpendicular diffraction spikes.” Underneath this caption are six images, broken into rows of three. The shape of the primary mirror, in particular the number of edges it has, determines the mirror’s diffraction pattern. So, even if a telescope had no struts, it would still create a diffraction pattern. Underneath this headline is a caption that says, “Primary mirrors in reflecting telescopes cause light waves to interact as they direct light to the secondary mirror. The third section is headlined, “Primary Mirror Influence”. ![]() The second box, on the right, is a star that displays Webb’s Diffraction Pattern, which has eight-points – two vertical, two horizontal and four diagonal points. The first box, on the left, is a star that displays Hubble’s Diffraction Pattern, which has four-points – two vertical and two horizontal points. These areas of amplification and cancellation form the light and dark spots that show in diffraction patterns.” Underneath this caption are two boxes, lined horizontally. In situations where these light waves meet and interact, they can either become more amplified or cancel each other out. As light encounters an edge, it is bent and redirected, sending it in different directions. The second section is headlined “How Does Diffraction Happen?” Underneath this headline is a caption that says, “Light, which has wave-like properties, tends to radiate from a central point outward, similar to how water behaves when a stone is tossed into it. For most reflecting telescopes, including Webb, diffraction spikes appear when light interacts with the primary mirror and struts that support the secondary mirror.” Below this is an image of Webb’s observing side, including its 18 gold hexagonal segments, science instruments, primary mirror, struts and secondary mirror. While all stars can create these patterns, we only see spikes with the brightest stars when a telescope takes an image. Diffraction spikes are patterns produced as light bends around the sharp edges of a telescope. The first section is headlined “What Are Diffraction Spikes?” Below the headline is a caption that says, “Have you ever noticed that bright stars in your favorite space images have unique spikes around them? These are known as diffraction spikes. This diagram is composed of five sections. The top right of the image shows three stars producing eight-pronged diffraction spike patterns. This is a diagram labeled “Webb’s Diffraction Spikes”.
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