An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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Two integrals that involve quadratic equations in the sine and cosine functions and are defined as: C(x) = ∫ cos (πt²/2) dt and C(y) = ∫ sin (πt²/2) dt, integrated from 0 to x. They are quite frequently used in optics studying → Fresnel diffraction and similar topics. The Fresnel integrals are also used in railway and freeway constructions. These integrals may be evaluated to arbitrary precision using → power series. Alternatively the amplitudes may be found graphically by use of → Cornu's spiral.

→ Fresnel diffraction; → integral.