Lens

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lens can refer to:

[edit] In optics

• Lens (optics), an optical element with perfect or approximate axial symmetry which transmits and refracts light
  • Lens (anatomy), a part of the eye
  • Corrective lens for correction of human vision
  • Photographic lens, a lens designed for use on a camera. See also Category:Photographic lenses
  • Sunglass lenses, which are light-attenuating elements

See also: Category:Lenses

[edit] Focussing of other radiation and forces

• Gravitational lens, a massive astronomical object which bends the light from objects beyond it
• Electrostatic lens, a device used to focus or collimate electron beams
• Explosive lens, a shaped explosive charge with focussed blast used primarily in nuclear weapons
• Acoustic lens, a mechanical device used in loudspeaker design to improve the dispersion of high frequencies

[edit] Uses associated with shapes

The word lens originally comes from the Latin for a lentil; the first, biconvex, optical lens was given its name because it was lentil-shaped.

• Lens (genus), the genus of the lentil plant
• Lens (geometry), a geometric shape formed from two arcs
• Lens (geology), a body of ore or rock that is thick in the middle and thin at the edges
• Lens (groundwater), a layer of fresh water derived from rainfall, overlying saline groundwater

[edit] Other uses

• a metaphor for a point of view
• a fictional alien device in E. E. Smith's Lensman series, which gives its bearer telepathic and other abilities

[edit] Place names

• Arrondissement of Lens, in the département of Pas-de-Calais, France
  • Lens, Pas-de-Calais, a commune in that arrondissement
    • RC Lens, its football (soccer) club
• Lens, Belgium
• Lens, Valais, Switzerland

[edit] Names of people

• Louis Lens, Flemish rose breeder
• Nicholas Lens, Belgian composer

[edit] Acronyms

• Laser Engineered Net Shaping, a rapid prototyping technology capable of building fully-dense metal parts