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Zernike polynomials
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Mathematics/pxTouaz4">mathematics</a>, the Zernike polynomials are a <a href="/facts/Polynomial_sequence/JaH5aGcH">sequence</a> of <a href="/facts/Polynomial/Lzak8VVx">polynomials</a> that are <a href="/facts/Orthogonal_polynomials/9cyRbDYU">orthogonal</a> on the <a href="/facts/Unit_disk/phrUu7yC">unit disk</a>. Named after optical physicist <a href="/facts/Frits_Zernike/uQpqyBpg">Frits Zernike</a>, laureate of the 1953 <a href="/facts/Nobel_Prize/3z1Y3oFL">Nobel Prize</a> in Physics and the inventor of <a href="/facts/Phase-contrast_microscopy/BmUkx69q">phase-contrast microscopy</a>, they play important roles in various optics branches such as beam <a href="/facts/Optics/p0vq4S1T">optics</a> and imaging. </p>