What is the consequence of forming an image from a curved input phosphor and a flat output phosphor?

When an image is formed using a curved input phosphor in conjunction with a flat output phosphor, one of the primary consequences is pincushion distortion. This distortion occurs because the different shapes of the phosphors cause variations in how light is emitted and collected across the image. The curved input phosphor distributes light unevenly compared to the flat output phosphor, leading to a warping effect in the image. Specifically, regions away from the center of the image appear exaggerated or pinched inward, creating a pincushion-like appearance.

This distortion can impact the quality and accuracy of the images obtained, especially in applications where precise measurements and visual clarity are crucial. The understanding of how phosphor shapes interact is essential for optimizing imaging systems and correcting or mitigating such distortions in practice.

In contrast, the other concepts like detection efficiency, modulation transfer function, and spatial efficiency relate to image quality and performance metrics but do not specifically address the immediate geometric distortion caused by the mismatched shapes of the phosphors.