Zernike-gauss polynomials and optical aberrations of systems with gaussian pupils.

In the first two Notes of this series,(l,2) we discussed Zernike circle and annular polynomials that represent optimally balanced classical aberrations of systems with uniform circular or annular pupils, respectively. Here we discuss Zernike-Gauss polynomials which are the corresponding polynomials for systems with Gaussian circular or annular pupils.(3-5) Such pupils, called apodized pupils, are used in optical imaging to reduce the secondary rings of the pointspread functions of uniform pupils.(6) Propagation of Gaussian laser beams also involves such pupils.