History of Optics at Itek

Abstract

Itek Corporation was founded in 1957. A major business quickly developed in the manufacture of large precision optical systems principally for aerospace photography. While the company is now highly diversified, this work continues as a major activity. This article discusses the work of the group especially in the field of image formation as it has been described in the scientific literature. An outline is given of the historical roots in earlier laboratory programs beginning at Boston University in 1946 and at Harvard University in 1941.