Final answer:
Chromatic aberration is caused by the wavelength-dependent index of refraction of materials and different wavelengths of light focusing at different locations, leading to color fringes around images.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chromatic aberration is caused by a combination of factors related to the properties of light and the materials through which it passes. Specifically, it arises due to:
- a. the index of refraction of materials being dependent upon the wavelength of light
- b. the shape of lenses and prisms
- c. different wavelengths of light focusing at different locations after passing through a lens
While the visual input processing by the human brain may affect how we perceive colors, it is not a cause of chromatic aberration. Instead, chromatic aberration is an optical phenomenon intrinsic to how lenses refract light of different wavelengths to varying degrees, resulting in different focal points. This leads to color fringes around objects in images or through optical instruments. Various corrective measures, such as using achromatic doublets, can help reduce chromatic aberration.