Abstract

A method of calculating and correcting primary and higher order chromatic aberrations of arbitrary optical systems is discussed. This method uses Buchdahl’s chromatic aberration theory [1] to calculate the exact chromatic aberration coefficients (axial and lateral color of any order) of a given optical system, with no restriction on element thickness or spacing. This theory is rewritten so that the color correction problem is approximated by a series of homogeneous linear equations, which can be solved by graphical or linear algebraic techniques. This formulation gives a lens designer the ability to easily and systematically choose glasses that can potentially correct the chromatic aberrations of a complex lens system. Several design examples are given that illustrate the application of this method to lens systems with finite element thicknesses and separations. It is shown that this method can directly accommodate diffractive optical elements (DOE’s) and that DOE’s can be used to correct higher order chromatic aberrations of lens systems that could not otherwise be corrected.

© 1994 Optical Society of America