Abstract

We examine ray matrices for optical systems with reduced symmetry. Here we consider the description of a complete optical system as described by a 4 × 4 ray matrix. In general, all sixteen matrix elements will be nonzero. Imaging conditions are presented for the general case of astigmatic line objects written in terms of the input object information and the general ray matrix elements. An example showing the application to astigmatism in a simple optical system is presented. Finally, a scheme for finding the general ray matrix from computer ray tracing is indicated.

© 1991 Optical Society of America