PROPERTIES OF OPTICAL DESIGN MODULES

Abstract

In the first part of this report the class of two-surface optical systems designated as modules, which have zero third-order spherical aberration relative to a pair of conjugate planes one of which is at infinity, has been further analyzed using the parameters of the Delano y,ÿ diagram. For a given set of three indices of refraction n1, n2, and n3, functional relationships among the y,j7 diagram parameters that eliminate simultaneously other Seidel aberrations are derived. Expressions for zero coma, astigmatism, and Petzval curvature are also given. Criteria for selecting the non - optical parameter k, which defines the desired properties of modules, are described. A one -to-one correspondence between the canonical optical parameters defined in previous studies of modules and certain quantities derivable from the y,ÿ diagram representation is shown. Critical values of the free parameters of modules for both the real and the imaginary cases are derived and defined relative to the y,,y diagram parameters. In the second part of this report an analysis is made of a class of modules referred to as the imaginary -case family depending on the new parameter 0. The critical values 00, 0_, and 0 *, which correspond to those obtained for real-case modules, are defined, and the conditions for their existence in the domain of are derived. These critical values, whose counterparts in the real case exist for both refracting and reflecting systems, do not exist for refracting imaginary-case modules when the indices of refraction are restricted to commonly available optical glasses. The critical values of 0 exist and have fixed values for all reflecting module systems. A method is proposed for classifying imaginary-case modules, which would permit comparison for coupling purposes.