Collimated light facts for kids
Collimated light is light whose rays are parallel, and therefore will spread slowly as it propagates. The word is related to "collinear" with all rays lining up.
In theory, collimated light does not disperse with distance. Really, collimated light will disperse a little as it travels over distance. Diffraction prevents scientists from creating a perfectly collimated beam with no divergence.
Light can be roughly collimated by using a collimator – a device which narrows a beam of particles or waves.
Etymology
The word "collimate" comes from the Latin verb collimare, which originated in a misreading of collineare, "to direct in a straight line".
Lasers
Laser light from crystal and some gas lasers is highly collimated because it is formed in an optical cavity between two parallel mirrors, in addition to being coherent. The divergence of high-quality laser beams is commonly less than 1 milliradian, and can be much less for large-diameter beams. Laser diodes emit less collimated light due to their short cavity, and therefore higher collimation requires a collimating lens.
Synchrotron light
Synchrotron light is very collimated. It is produced by bending relativistic electrons around a circular track.
Distant sources
The light from stars (other than the Sun) can be considered collimated for almost any purpose, because they are so far away they have almost no angular size.
Lenses and mirrors
A perfect parabolic mirror will bring parallel rays to a focus at a single point. Conversely, a point source at the focus of a parabolic mirror will produce a beam of collimated light. Since the source needs to be small, such an optical system cannot produce much optical power. Spherical mirrors are easier to make than parabolic mirrors and they are often used to produce approximately collimated light. Many types of lenses can also produce collimated light from point-like sources.
See also
In Spanish: Luz colimada para niños
