Abstract

The performance of optical systems is limited by imperfect optical surfaces that degrade the images below the level set by wave theoretical limits. The central irradiance functions are derived for slit and circular apertures with five distributions of wavefront errors and for a range of maximal wavefront deviations. For practical frequency of occurrence distributions of wavefront deviations, the point spread and the image energy integral functions are determined. Practical performances of optical systems are derived and performance limits discussed.

© 1987 Optical Society of America

Surface Deviations and Imaging Performance

H. F. A. Tschunko
Appl. Opt. 10(11) 2423-2426 (1971)

Imaging Performance and Surface Deviations*

Hubert F. A. Tschunko
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 56(8) 1041-1045 (1966)

Imaging Performance of Annular Apertures

Hubert F. A. Tschunko
Appl. Opt. 13(8) 1820-1823 (1974)

Imaging performance of annular apertures. 5: Total and partial energy integral functions

Hubert F. A. Tschunko
Appl. Opt. 22(1) 137-141 (1983)

Imaging performance of annular apertures. 2: Line spread functions

Hubert F. A. Tschunko
Appl. Opt. 17(7) 1075-1079 (1978)