Abstract

We apply the phase-space representation known as the Wigner distribution function to associate amplitudes to the paraxial rays. In this way we are able to give a geometrical optics ray picture of the Strehl ratio. Tolerance criteria for focus errors and spherical aberration are specified in terms of the amplitude for the paraxial rays which intersect the optical axis. We show that for certain pupils, the amplitude of the rays that cross the optical axis at an angle θ are identical to the values of the optical transfer function at the spatial frequency α = 2θ/λ.

© 1987 Optical Society of America