Abstract:
The design of imaging optical systems is an engineering discipline
which has been practiced and written about for many years. In many
ways, optical design is both a science and an art, and for this reason it is
a technology that can cause problems if it is not done properly. Furthermore,
most
books
on
the
subject
tend
to
be
complex
and
difficult
to
follow
and
to
understand.
With
this
book,
we
hope
to
bring
the
understanding
of
our
discipline
to
everyone.
We
are
all
aware
of
cameras,
binoculars,
and
other
optical
systems
and
instruments. In
the
past
several
years,
the
field
of
optics
and
photonics
has
seen a
tremendous
surge in
both
technology
and in
applications.
This is
fueled
by a
closer
association
with
electronics in
devices
such
as
digital
cameras,
enhanced
machine
vision
systems, MEMS
and
microoptical
systems
for
telecommunications
and
other
related
applications,
many
of
which
have
yet
to
be
invented.
With
this
surge in
the
applications
of
optics,
the
educational
process
of
training
experienced
optical
designers
and
engineers
becomes
extremely
important if
not
critical.
We
realize
that
it is
difficult
to
be
an
expert in
everything.
We
also
realize
that in
addition
to
optical
design
which is
the
core
of
the
book,
important
topics
including
optical
manufacturing,
polarization,
and
optical
coatings
are
important
subjects
that
need
to
be
covered in
this
book,
and
the
first
edition
included
these
topics.
With
this
new
second
edition,
other
critical
technologies
including
optomechanical
design,
systems
modeling
and
analysis,
and
stray
light
suppression
are
now
included.
Further,
completely
revised
chapters
on
diffractive
optics
and
polarization
are
also
included.
We
are
honored
to
have
contributed
chapters
written
by
experts
in
their
fields:
Paul
Yoder
on
optomechanical
design,
Rick
Plympton
and
Bob
Wiederhold
on
optical
manufacturing,
Steve
McClain
and
Tom
Baur
on
polarization in
optical
systems,
Ranko
Galeb
on
thin
films
and
optical
coatings,
Bernard
Kress
on
diffractive
optics,
and
Alastair
J.
Grant
on
systems
modeling
and
analysis, as
well as
stray
light
suppression.
The
ultimate
goal
of
this
book is
to
teach
optical
design
and
engineering in a
fully
unintimidating
way
using
clear
and
easy
to
understand
graphics
and
explanations.
Many
authors
feel
an
obligation
to include complex mathematical derivations. We have taken a very different
approach. We will make this book clear and easy to understand with the
goal that you will learn the subject matter with a combination of complete
graphics,
easy
to
follow
explanations,
and
just
enough
math
to
be
useful,
but
not
too
much
math
to
make
the
book
hard
to
follow
or
difficult
to
understand.
This
book
Optical
System
Design
is largely based on the firm foundation
of
the
short
course
by
the
same
title
taught
by
Bob
Fischer
to
over
thousands
of
students
over
the
past
20
years.
The
course
has
been
honed,
polished,
and
expanded
over
the
years.
It is
available
on CD
ROM
and
videotape,
and
finally,
via
this
book.
Typical
comments
have
been: