Abben.2
/ˈabə/, U.S. /ˈæbə/ Optics.
1. Used attributively, in the genitive, and with of, to designate optical instruments and concepts invented by or associated with Abbe.Recorded earliest in Abbe refractometer n.
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1876 Ann. Rec. Sci. & Industry 1875 136 (heading) Abbe's refractometer.
1901 Photogr. Jrnl. July 324 Remarkably perfect microscope objectives—the Abbe apochromats.
1907 Jrnl. Royal Microsc. Soc. 622 The magnification obtained according to Abbe's rule.
1937 J. L. Syngh Geom. Optics iv. 87 (heading) The sine condition of Abbe.
1975 B. V. Barlow Astron. Telescope iv. 53 This expression derives from the Abbe sine condition for lenses, sin u/sin u' = m (n'/n).
2009 Nature 23 July 433/1 The performance of a light microscope is intrinsically constrained by the Abbe diffraction limit.
2.
a. Abbe refractometer n. (also Abbe's refractometer) an instrument for directly determining the refractive index of a small sample of a liquid.
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the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > instruments for measuring > [noun] > light or radiation
phaometer1747
photometer1779
diaphanometer1789
lucimeter1825
refractometer1842
Abbe refractometer1876
dietheroscope1877
reflectometer1879
radiomicrometer1887
holophotometer1888
flicker photometer1896
microphotometer1899
diffractometer1909
spot meter1952
photopolarimeter1971
1876*Abbe's refractometer [see sense 1].
1964 N. G. Clark Mod. Org. Chem. iv. 49 This can be accomplished with the Abbé refractometer, an instrument designed to give a direct reading of the refractive index to four decimal places.
2003 Biol. Bull. 204 51/1 Solution densities were verified by refractometry using an Abbe refractometer.
b. Abbe condenser n. (also Abbe's condenser) a condenser for compound microscopes, consisting of a compound lens with a large aperture.
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the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > magnification or magnifying instruments > [noun] > microscope > parts of
object plate1664
slider1703
pout1832
indicator1837
substage1853
focuser1861
nosepiece1867
searcher1870
Abbe condenser1879
eyeshade1885
1875 Amer. Naturalist 9 253 Prof. E. Abbe, of Jena, whose New Illuminating Apparatus seems not very unlike the common English ‘Webster Condenser’.]
1879 Jrnl. Royal Microsc. Soc. 2 931 For the observation of the ‘microgonidia’, Dr. Müller recommends immersion objectives, with Abbe's condenser.
1937 Discovery Jan. p. vii/1 Polariscopes, Abbe Condensers, etc.
2003 M. Hoppert Microsc. Techniques Biotechnol. i. 77 The primary advantages of the Abbe condenser are the wide cone of illumination.., as well as its ability to work with long working distance objectives.
c. Abbe number n. the reciprocal of the dispersive power of a medium, low values of which indicate a high potential for dispersion (and vice versa); symbol v.
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the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > [noun] > Abbe number
Abbe number1918
1918 F. R. Fraprie tr. H. Harting Optics for Photographers xiii. 123 This is the Abbe number [formula].
1937 G. S. Monk Light vi. 65 It is customary for glass makers to give the value of 1/ω, sometimes called the Abbe number ν.
2007 European Lenses & Technol. Oct. 12/1 The Abbe number for Trivex™ enables it to be classified as a low dispersion material.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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