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Question #43126
The Question
A point charge is placed on the principal axis of a thin plano-convex lens at a distance from its flat surface. The lens has a radius of curvature for its convex surface and a maximum central thickness . The lens is made of an electro-optic material whose refractive index varies with the local electric field magnitude as , where and are positive constants. Assume (paraxial approximation) and that the electric field inside the lens is approximately the vacuum field produced by the point charge . The charge also acts as a point source of monochromatic light. Let be the electric field magnitude at the pole of the flat surface. Which of the following expressions correctly represents the effective optical power of the lens for paraxial rays emitted by ?
Options
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Intuition_Breaker
Train your brain to resist "obvious" answers that are designed to deceive your intuition.
Concepts Behind This Question
Spherical Surface Refraction|Newton’s Form of Lens Equation|Trajectory of Charged Particle|Vector Cross-Product
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
This question tests the student's ability to recognize when standard paraxial optics formulas break down due to spatial variations in the medium.
The 'lethal trap' occurs when a student calculates the modified refractive index at the pole () and blindly substitutes it into the standard Lens Maker's Formula, yielding Option B.
They fail to account for the non-uniform electric field creating a radial gradient in the refractive index (a GRIN lens effect).
Because the field is weaker at the edges, the refractive index is lower, which introduces an additional converging phase shift.
The correct analytical approach requires integrating the optical path length (Fermat's Principle) over the spatial profile to extract the true effective focal length.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Physics |
| Chapter | Ray Optics and Optical Instruments - Class 12 |
| Concept | Spherical Surface Refraction |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 7 |
| Target Solve Time | 160 sec |
| Access | Free |