Abstract

We present a model for investigating the effect of spherical aberration on the electromagnetic field and the Poynting vector in the focal region of a high-aperture lens. The fields are obtained by integrating the vector equivalent of Kirchhoff’s boundary integral over the aberrated wave front. We have studied both diffraction patterns and transfer functions. Our results differ significantly from those obtained by classical focusing theory. For example, the intensity peak is narrower. Also the intensiy distribution is no longer symmetric on the optical axis. A similar asymmetry has recently been measured.

© 1991 Optical Society of America

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