Abstract

In non-rotationally symmetric optical systems, chromatic aberrations must be defined in a generalized way with reference to the optical axis ray and optimal tilted parabasal image plane of the central wavelength. In this paper, the definition of generalized chromatic aberrations is clarified. The mathematical calculation in optical systems with arbitrary symmetry and surface shape is realized by ray- and wavefront-based methods, respectively, that are originally identical. The additivity of wavefront after each surface ensures the surface decomposition of chromatic aberrations. In the end, the influence of pupil aberration, which is of a higher order, is discussed. The consistency of our methods with Seidel aberrations in the lowest aberration order of the rotationally symmetric system and the application of our methods in diverse non-rotationally symmetric refractive systems will be addressed in detail in Part II.

© 2021 Optical Society of America

Generalized chromatic aberrations in non-rotationally symmetric optical systems–Part II: applications

Danyun Cai and Herbert Gross
Appl. Opt. 60(21) 6322-6330 (2021)

Extended aberration analysis in symmetry-free optical systems – part I: method of calculation

Ziyao Tang and Herbert Gross
Opt. Express 29(24) 39967-39982 (2021)

Initial system design method for non-rotationally symmetric systems based on Gaussian brackets and Nodal aberration theory

Yi Zhong and Herbert Gross
Opt. Express 25(9) 10016-10030 (2017)

Aberrations of plane-symmetrical mirror systems with freeform surfaces. Part I: generalized ray-tracing equations

Jérôme Caron and Stefan Bäumer
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 38(1) 80-89 (2021)

Polarization aberrations. 1. Rotationally symmetric optical systems

James P. McGuire and Russell A. Chipman
Appl. Opt. 33(22) 5080-5100 (1994)