Modeling the Effects of Chromatic Aberrations in Optical Systems

Abstract

In this thesis, some optical systems that share the common theme of chromatic aberrations are designed using Zemax OpticStudio. The chromatic aberrations of various lens materials that operate in the visible, infrared, and ultraviolet range are first investigated through their chromatic focal shift plots. A telecentric lens system, a telecentric pupil relay lens system, and a telecentric pupil relay lens system are examined to obtain their chromatic aberration information through their chromatic focal shift graphs. The rotational properties of a wedge prism are also studied by observing how the prism mitigates aberration for a tilted object as a function of different parameters such as the f-number of the system. Achromatic wedge pairs are then modeled using the same materials that operate in the visible spectrum as the lens materials that also function in the visible spectrum. The chromatic aberration that results from both the achromatic wedge pair and their respective lens are also compared. Overall, the thesis develops with some interesting examples exhibiting and correcting chromatic aberration.