<title>Improvement of the theoretical minimum detectable angle of the optical beam deflection method</title>

Abstract

We study the possibility ofimproving the theoretical limit to the resolution ofthe 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.