Three-dimensional polarization ray-tracing calculus II: retardance

The concept of retardance is critically analyzed for ray paths through optical systems described by a three-by-three polarization ray-tracing matrix. Algorithms are presented to separate the effects of retardance from geometric transformations. The geometric transformation described by a "parallel transport matrix" characterizes nonpolarizing propagation through an optical system, and also provides a proper relationship between sets of local coordinates along the ray path. The proper retardance is calculated by removing this geometric transformation from the three-by-three polarization ray-tracing matrix. Two rays with different ray paths through an optical system can have the same polarization ray-tracing matrix but different retardances. The retardance and diattenuation of an aluminum-coated three fold-mirror system are analyzed as an example.     

Basic theory of a four-lens optical system design

The theory and the method of calculation of an optical system based on aberration parameters C, W, P are presented. These parameters define all the aberrations of optical systems. The method is based on the synthesis of multilens systems from the single elements. The formulas for the relationships of increments between the angles of the first paraxial ray and the increments in the basic parameters are introduced. These formulas permit the parameters to vary and correct the aberrations. These angle calculations of the first paraxial ray of a four-lens cemented and uncemented system are presented. It is a method for designing complex optical systems from the initial stage to the final stage with corrected aberrations.     

Analysis of Inhomogeneous Optical Systems by the Use of Ray Tracing. II. Three-dimensional Systems with Symmetry

We describe a new approach to the index reconstruction of three-dimensional optical systems with rotational symmetry, which is based on sampling ray paths that lie in the sagittal plane. Since the observed rays are distorted by the optical system itself, they cannot be used directly for index reconstruction. We present an iterative procedure to compute the true ray paths and then to find the index distribution. The utility of the method is verified on the model problem.     

First-order gradients of skew rays of axis-symmetrical optical systems

Current commercial software for analysis and design of optical systems use finite difference (FD) approximation methodology to estimate the gradient matrix of a ray with respect to system variables. However, FD estimates are intrinsically inaccurate, subject to gross error when the denominator is excessively small relative to the numerator. We avoid these problems and determine these gradients by the application of Snell's law. We give the background and basics for determining the first-order gradients of skew rays of optical systems, whereby the differential vector of any ray can be estimated by the product of the developed gradient matrix and differential changes of system variables. The most important application is for optical design by use of optimization methods where the merit function is defined as the spot size. FD used for such optimization is slow for large systems and subject to inaccuracy. The presented methodology is shown to be accurate and computationally faster than traditional FD. Two illustrative examples are provided to validate the proposed method.     

Modified refraction-interference method for calculating the geometric and optical parameters of optical waveguides

We describe a ray method for analysis of the geometric and optical characteristics of two-layer fiber optical waveguides. We have analyzed the effect of the polarization of the illuminating beam on the overall pattern of the intensity distribution. We consider the characteristic types of rays for a single-layer and two-layer fiber optical waveguide. We have obtained definitive dependences of the beam intensity for each ray individually. We have developed a program for calculation of the scattering pattern in fiber optical waveguides illuminated by a broad beam. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 3, pp. 39–42, March, 1996.     

Propagation of a random electromagnetic beam through a misaligned optical system in turbulent atmosphere

On the basis of the generalized diffraction integral formula for misaligned optical systems in the spatial domain, an analytical propagation expression for the elements of the cross-spectral density matrix of a random electromagnetic beam passing through a misaligned optical system in turbulent atmosphere is derived. Some analyses are illustrated by numerical examples relating to changes in the state of polarization of an electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam propagating through such an optical system. It is shown that the misalignment has a significant influence on the intensity profile and the state of polarization of the beam, but the influence becomes smaller for the beam propagating in strong turbulent atmosphere. The method in this paper can be applied for sources that are either isotropic or anisotropic. It is shown that the isotropic sources and the anisotropic sources have different polarization properties on beam propagation.     

浮法玻璃均匀性的光学检测方法

在浮法玻璃的生产中,均匀性的检测与控制对于玻璃的质量保证至关重要.本文给出了一种可有效用于浮法玻璃均匀性检测的光学方法.实验结果表明,该方法采用平行偏振光成像系统和CCD图像采集与处理技术,可以清楚地获得平板玻璃样品侧向均匀性分布的光学图像,并能对图像的灰度分布进行定量分析,从而可为玻璃的质量评价和工艺控制提供可靠的依据.     

Polarization Aberration Effects Propagated in Optical Systems

Abstract

The propagation and imaging of polarized light through optical systems described by a polarization aberration expansion is treated by combining a scalar operator calculus with the Jones calculus. The martrix-operator framework provides a means for handling diffraction and propagation in optical systems containing polarization aberrations. An expansion for the polarization aberration function of an optical system, similar to the expansion of the wavefront aberration function into defocus, tilt, piston, and higher-order terms, is analysed. These polarization aberration terms introduce phase changes in the diffraction image proportional to the first and second derivatives of the non-polarization aberrated image structure.     

3 x 3 matrix for unitary optical systems

We introduce a 3 x 3 matrix for the study of unitary optical systems. This 3 x 3 matrix is a submatrix of the 4 x 4 Mueller matrix. The elements of this 3 x 3 matrix are real, and thus complex-number calculations can be avoided. The 3 x 3 matrix is useful for illustrating the polarization state of an optical system. One can also use it to derive the conditions for linear and circular polarization output for a general optical system. New characterization methods for unitary optical systems are introduced. It is shown that the trajectory of the Stokes vector on a Poincaré sphere is either a circle or an ellipse as the optical system or input polarizer is rotated. One can use this characteristic circle or ellipse to measure the equivalent optical retardation and rotation of any lossless optical system.     

Second-order derivatives of optical path length of ray with respect to variable vector of source ray

A method is proposed for determining the second-order derivatives (i.e., the Hessian matrix) of the optical path length of a ray with respect to the variable vector of the source ray in an optical system comprising both flat and spherical boundary surfaces. Several wavefront aberration problems are investigated using the Hessian matrix proposed in this study and the Jacobian (first-order derivatives) matrix presented in the literature. It is found that when using the Hessian matrix the precision of wavefront aberration is significantly improved when evaluated up to the quadratic term of the Taylor series expansion. The methodology proposed in this study not only provides the means to investigate the principal curvatures of the wavefront along a ray, but also yields the information required to determine the irradiance and caustics of both axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric optical systems.     

Coating-induced wave-front aberrations: on-axis astigmatism and chromatic aberration in all-reflecting systems

The coatings used on telescope mirrors and other optical interfaces can have a marked effect on an optical system's image quality. We describe the wave-front aberrations, particularly the defocus and on-axis astigmatism, that are induced by the s- and p-phase shifts of coatings. These coating-induced wave-front aberrations are very small, particularly near the design wavelengths of the coatings, but they can under certain circumstances overshadow the geometric wave-front aberrations of the system. The wave-front aberrations that are induced by reflection-enhanced coatings on an à/1.5 Cassegrain telescope are numerically evaluated as an example. A theory of coating-induced on-axis astigmatism and chromatic aberration is presented, and a simple algorithm that uses polarization ray tracing to calculate coating-induced defocus and astigmatism coefficients in radially symmetric systems is provided.     

Astigmatic foci along a skew ray

Abstract

A method for astigmatism calculations along any skew ray is presented. This is useful in the case of extremely wide angle optical systems (and not only imaging systems), where skew ray aberrations are most dominant, but it is essential in the case of systems which are not rotationally symmetric, where all the rays may be skew. Equations relating the position of the astigmatic foci before and after refraction or reflection are derived from the analysis of infinitesimal wave fronts in the immediate neighbourhood of the point of incidence of any ray, but particularly the central ray of any pencil on an optical surface. The method is then illustrated and checked with representative numerical examples.     

Coherence and polarization of electromagnetic beams modulated by random phase screens and their changes through complex ABCD optical systems

The change of coherence and polarization of an electromagnetic beam modulated by a random anisotropic phase screen passing through any optical system is found within the framework of complex ABCD-matrix theory This means that the formalism can treat imaging and Fourier transform and free-space optical systems, as well as fractional Fourier transform systems, with finite-size limiting apertures of Gaussian transmission shape. Thus, the current paper shall be considered as a continuation, extension, and generalization of a previous work by Shirai and Wolf [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A21, 1907 (2004)]. It will be shown that the inclusion of apertures in the optical system strongly influences not only the propagation of spatial coherence but also the degree of polarization of a propagating field. Analytical expressions of coherence and polarization propagation will be given in terms of the matrix elements for any complex optical system.     

Changes in the polarization and coherence of a random electromagnetic beam propagating through a misaligned optical system

On the basis of the generalized diffraction integral formula for misaligned optical systems in the spatial domain, an analytical propagation expression for the elements of the cross-spectral density matrix of a random electromagnetic beam passing through a misaligned optical system is derived. Some analyses are illustrated by numerical examples relating to changes in the spectral degree of polarization and in the spectral degree of coherence of an electromagnetic Gaussian-Schell-model beam propagating through such an optical system. We find that the degree of polarization in the neighboring areas of the focal plane is oscillating, and the effect of misalignment on coherence is not so evident as that on polarization.     

Aberrations introduced by a lens made from a birefringent material

We incorporate an algorithm for ray tracing in birefringent media into a full ray-tracing package based on the Mathematica software application. To validate the package, we compare the calculated and observed wave-front aberration introduced by an optical system that comprises lenses fabricated from birefringent material. Using the package, we calculate the influence of the lens shape factor on the aberrations associated with the e-ray polarization and show that it differs significantly from that of the o-ray polarization.     

Generalized Raytracing and Applications

The paper deals with an enlargement of the common raytracing algorithm. It allows a simultaneous handling of all rays in an infinitesimal neighbourhood of a given ray. The method can be used for calculating the astigmatic foci of wavefronts and for direct computation of derivatives of transverse ray aberrations and wave aberrations with respect to parameters of the system. The formulae are sufficiently general to handle optical systems without rotational symmetry and with aspheric lenses and mirrors.     

Projection display for the generation of two orthogonal polarized images using liquid crystal on silicon panels and light emitting diodes

We present a projection system that is capable of two-dimensional and three-dimensional image display. A novel projection architecture is discussed that can simultaneously generate two linear polarized full-color images with orthogonal states of polarization using only one optical system. Both images are modulated by using two high-resolution liquid crystal on silicon panels that are illuminated with high-power light emitting diodes. The optical core and the illumination system are simulated, characterized, and optimized with nonsequential ray tracing software. A proof-of-concept demonstrator of the entire projection system is built and characterized. Important component specifications are discussed to improve the system performance.     

Scalar and electromagnetic diffraction point-spread functions

We describe an accurate technique for computing the diffraction point-spread function for optical systems. The approach is based on the combined method of ray tracing and diffraction, which implies that the computation is accomplished in a two-step procedure. First, ray tracing is employed to compute the wave-front error in a reference plane on the image side of the system and to determine the shape of the vignetted pupil. Next the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction theory, combined with the Kirchhoff approximation and the Stamnes-Spjelkavik-Pedersen method for numerical integration, is applied to compute the field in the region of the image. The method does not rely on small-angle approximations and works well for a pupil of general shape. Both scalar and electromagnetic computations are discussed and numerical results are presented.