Imaging scatterometry of butterfly wing scales

Opt Express. 2009 Jan 5;17(1):193-202. doi: 10.1364/oe.17.000193.

Abstract

We describe an imaging scatterometer allowing hemispherical reflectance measurements as a function of the angle of incidence. The heart of the scatterometer is an ellipsoidal reflector, which compresses the hemispherical reflection into a cone-shaped beam that can be imaged by a normal optical system. The instrument's performance is illustrated by measurements of the scattering profiles of the blue-iridescent dorsal wing scales of the nymphalid Morpho aega and the matte-green ventral wing scales of the lycaenid Callophrys rubi.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Butterflies / anatomy & histology*
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Lenses
  • Light
  • Lighting
  • Optics and Photonics*
  • Pigmentation / physiology
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Wings, Animal / anatomy & histology
  • Wings, Animal / physiology*