Abstract

The two-by-two matrices used for paraxial ray optics are commonly represented with elements A, B, C, D. However, each element has a physical significance and can be represented with more appropriate symbols, making the matrices and computations involving them more physically meaningful. One element is always the negative of the systems power ϕ. Another elements is associated with the front of the system, and can be labelled F. This element equals.

© 1993 Optical Society of America