Pupil exploration and wave-front-polynomial fitting of optical systems.

Pupil exploration and wave-front-polynomial fitting algorithms are tools that are often employed in image-quality evaluation techniques, such as optical-transfer-function and point-spread-function calculations. These techniques require that aberration data be determined for a large number of points across the pupil. With optical systems increasing in complexity, it is necessary that these algorithms become more sophisticated to ensure that the proper pupil shapes and aberration maps are used to represent the wave fronts. Such algorithms are described. These algorithms can handle systems that not only lack the symmetry found with the more conventional lens systems but those that also have apertures with unusual shapes. As practical demonstrations the treatments employed in the pupil exploration and the wave-front-polynomial fitting have been applied to various lens arrangements and the results discussed.