In the era of global optimization, the understanding of aberrations remains the key to designing superior optical systems

Julie L. Bentley; Craig Olson; Richard N. Youngworth

doi:10.1117/12.871720

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9 November 2010 In the era of global optimization, the understanding of aberrations remains the key to designing superior optical systems

Julie L. Bentley, Craig Olson, Richard N. Youngworth

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Proceedings Volume 7849, Optical Design and Testing IV; 78490C (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.871720
Event: Photonics Asia 2010, 2010, Beijing, China

Abstract

Historically, a thorough grounding in aberration theory was the only path to successful lens design, both for developing starting layouts and for design improvement. Modern global optimizers, however, allow the lens designer to easily generate multiple solutions to a single design problem without understanding the crucial importance of aberrations and how they determine the full design potential. Compared to pure numerical optimization, aberration theory applied during the lens design process gives the designer a much firmer grasp of the overall design limitations and possibilities. Among other benefits, aberrations provide excellent insight into tolerance sensitivity and manufacturability of the underlying design form. We explore multiple examples of how applying aberration theory to lens design can improve the entire lens design process. Example systems include simple UV, visible, and IR refractive lenses; much more complicated refractive systems requiring field curvature balance; and broadband zoom lenses.

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Julie L. Bentley, Craig Olson, and Richard N. Youngworth "In the era of global optimization, the understanding of aberrations remains the key to designing superior optical systems", Proc. SPIE 7849, Optical Design and Testing IV, 78490C (9 November 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.871720

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