Improvement of the theoretical minimum detectable angle of the optical beam deflection method

We study the possibility of improving the theoretical limit to the resolution of the optical beam deflection method (OBDM) by reflecting the beam from a curved surface. We suggest a new detection scheme by measuring the average intensity over a cross section of the beam after it is reflected from a cylindrical mirror. We show that there is a possibility of decreasing the theoretical minimum detectable angle (MDA) as compared to the usual OBDM when the beam grazes the cylindrical mirror.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.