Aberrations

Aberrations

Aberrations are distortions that occur in images, usually due to

imperfections in lenses, some unavoidable, some avoidable.
They include:
Chromatic aberration
Spherical aberration
Astigmatism
Coma
Curvature of field

distortion (Pincushion and Barrel )

Most aberrations can’t be modeled with ray matrices. Designers beat

them with lenses of multiple elements, that is, several lenses in a row.
Some zoom lenses can have as many as a dozen or more elements.
 Aberrations
Aberrations - deviations from Gaussian optics.
Chromatic aberrations - n depends on wavelength
Monochromatic aberrations - rays deviate from Gaussian optics
ϕ3 ϕ5 ϕ7
Taylor series: sin ϕ = ϕ − + − + ...
3! 5! 7!
Paraxial approximation: sin ϕ ≈ ϕ
ϕ3
Third order theory: sin ϕ ≈ ϕ −
3!
Departures from the first order theory observed in the third order
leave to the following primary aberrations:
• spherical aberrations
• coma
Philipp Ludwig Seidel “The five Seidel
(1821-1896)
• astigmatism
aberrations”
• field curvature
• distortion
 Third order aberrations
• sin θ terms in Snell’s law can be expanded in power series
n sin θ = n’ sin θ ’

n ( θ - θ 3/3! + θ 5/5! + …) = n’ ( θ ’ - θ ’3/3! + θ ’5/5! +

…)
• Paraxial ray approximation: keep only θ terms (first order
optics; rays propagate nearly along optical axis)
• Third order aberrations: result from adding θ 3 terms
– Spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism, .....
Spherical Aberration

.
 Spherical Aberration in Mirrors

For all rays to converge to a point a distance f away from a curved

mirror requires a paraboloidal surface.

Spherical surface Paraboloidal surface

But this only works for rays with θ in = 0.

 Hubble Space Telescope suffered from
Spherical Aberration

• In a Cassegrain telescope, the hyperboloid of the primary mirror

must match the specs of the secondary mirror. For HST they
didn’t match.
Hubble telescope

COSTAR - corrective optics

space telescope axial
replacement module
 Spherical Aberration in Lenses

So we use spherical surfaces, which work better for a wider

range of input angles.
Nevertheless, off-axis rays see a different focal length, so
lenses have spherical aberration, too.
 Spherical aberrations
Paraxial approximation (First order):
n1 n2 n2 − n1
+ = Paraxial approximation: sin ϕ ≈ ϕ
so si R

deviation from the first-order theory

n n n −n  n  1 1
2
n 1 1
2

Third order: 1 + 2 = 2 1 + h 2  1  +  + 2  −  
so si R  2 so  so R  2 si  R si  

ϕ3
Third order theory: sin ϕ ≈ ϕ −
3!
 Spherical Aberration in Lenses

So we use spherical surfaces, which work better for a wider

range of input angles.
Nevertheless, off-axis rays see a different focal length, so
lenses have spherical aberration, too.
 Spherical aberrations
Σ LC - circle of least confusion, smallest image blur

L.SA = longitudinal spherical aberrations

image of an on-axis object is longitudinally stretched

T.SA = Transverse (lateral) spherical aberrations

image of an on-axis object is blurred in image plane
 Lens arrangement and S.A
.

Spherical aberration depends on lens arrangement:

 Different ways to illustrate
optical aberrations
Side view of a fan of “Spot diagram”: Image at
different focus positions
rays
(No aberrations)

1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4 5
Shows “spots” where rays would strike a
detector
 Spherical aberration

Rays from a spherically

Through-focus spot diagram
aberrated wavefront focus
for spherical aberration
at different planes
• How to fixed spherical
aberration
 Coddington Shape factor

R2 + R1
R1 = Front R2 = Back q≡
surface radius surface radius R2 − R1
of curvature of curvature

q lens1 = [(+R+(-R)]/[R-(-R)] =0

q len2 =[(-R+(+R)]/[(-R)-(+R)]=0

q=?
Coddington Shape factor curves
 Coddigton Position factor
• .
i+o
o
P=
i i−o

Example:
o =5 cm
i=10
P=[10+(-5)]/[10-(-5) =1/3
 Minimum S.A
• .
i+o R +R
P= ϕ= 2 1

i−o R −R
2 1

From “introduction to Geometrical and

Physical optics” p 86-94;
Minimum S.A happens when:
2(n − 1)
2

ϕ =− P
n+2
The radius of lens with minimum of
S.A
• From lens maker equation:
1 1 1
= ( n − 1)( − )
f R R
1 2

R +R
ϕ= 2 1

R −R
2 1

2 f ( n − 1)
R =
ϕ +1
1

2 f (n − 1)
R =
ϕ −1
2
 Spherical
aberration can
be also
minimized
using additional
lenses

The additional
lenses cancel
the spherical
aberration of the
first.
 Refractive Gradients
• Spherical aberration can be also minimized using gradient
index lens .

no – SA: (gradient lens)

SA: normal lens

 Theory of refractive Gradient
• .
∆L
n
λ ∆ L=
∆ yn n` ∆ L` Rδ
δ

R 1
δ = ∇ .∆L
n
n

1 ∂n
The angle is a function of the δ = ∫ dL
n ∂y
y
gradient index n and the length
of path traversed.
 Theory of refractive Gradient
1 The intergral is taken over the length L, traversed by the
δ = ∇ .∆L light. If:
n
n

1 ∂n 1-The L is relatively short

δ = ∫ dL
n ∂y
y
2- The medium is honomgeneous
1 ∂n
δ = L
n ∂y
y

1 ∂n
∆L =Rδ =R L
n ∂y
∆L =L
n
R=
∂n
∂y
 Example
1cm
n=1.4
Determine
-The angle of deflection of light 5cm
n=1.6
-The radius of curvature which the light is bent.
Solution
n = (1.4+1.6)/2=1.5
1 ∂n
δ = L
n ∂y
y

1 0.2
δ= (0.01) = 0.02667rad = 1.53 0

1.5 0.05
n 1.5
R= =
∂n 0.2 5
∂y
• Coma
• Coma
causes rays
from an off-axis
point of light in the
object plane to create
a trailing "comet-like"
blur directed away from
the optic axis.
For objects-image pints that are off-axis the
aberration is called coma

• Coma

The lens magnification is depend on the lens

diameter and θ
 Coma
Coma
causes rays
from an off-axis
point of light in the
object plane to create
a trailing "comet-like"
blur directed away from
the optic axis. A lens with
considerable coma may
produce a sharp image in
the center of the field, but
become increasingly
blurred toward the edges.
For a single lens, coma can
be caused or partially
corrected by tilting the lens.
 Coma
point off the axis depicted as comet shaped blob

Marc Pollefeys
 Coma (comatic aberration)

Reason: principal planes are not flat but curved surfaces

Focal length is different for off-axis points/rays

Negative coma: meridional rays

focus closer to the principal axis
 Coma (comatic aberration)

Vertical coma

Horizontal coma
 Removing the of coma by
asymmetric lens
• Off axes rays and similar optical path for
asymmetric lens
 How Coma can be fixed

These distortions are fixed by an “orthoscopic doublet” or a

“Zeiss orthometer.”
• Astigmatism
 Where does astigmatism come from?

From Ian McLean, UCLA

Different view of astigmatism
Astigmatism θ

When the optical system

lacks perfect cylindrical
symmetry, we say it
has astigmatism. A
simple cylindrical
lens or off-axis
curved-mirror
reflection will
cause this
problem.
Model
astigmatism
by separate x
and y analyses.

Cure astigmatism with another cylindrical lens or off-axis curved mirror.

Astigmatism

Focal length for rays in Sagittal and

Meridional planes differ for off-axis
points

http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/aberrations/astigmatism/
 Oblique astigmatism
• Occurs when rays of
light strike a spherical
lens obliquely-
• Line of sight not
parallel with principal
axis of lens
 Astigmatism

Different focal length for inclined rays

Marc Pollefeys
• Curvature of field
Curvature of field
Curvature of field causes a planar object to project a curved (non-
planar) image. Rays at a large angle see the lens as having an
effectively smaller diameter and an effectively smaller focal length,
forming the image of the off axis points closer to the lens.
 Field curvature

Focal plane is curved:

Petzval field curvature aberration

Negative lens has field plane

that curves away from the
image plane:
Can use a combination of
positive and negative lenses to
cancel the effect

http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/aberrations/curvatureoffield/index.html
• distortion
Pincushion and Barrel Distortion

These distortions are fixed by an

“orthoscopic doublet” or a “Zeiss
orthometer.”
Barrel and pincushion distortion

Barrel

Pincushion
 Distortion
Transverse magnification MT may be a function of off-axis image
distance: distortions
Positive (pincushion) distortion
Negative (barrel) distortion

http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/aberrations/distortion/index.html
 Correcting monochromatic aberrations
• Use combinations of lenses with mutually canceling
aberration effects
• Use apertures
• Use aspherical elements

Example:
 Chromatic
Aberration
Because the lens material has a different refractive index for each
wavelength, the lens will have a different focal length for each
wavelength. Recall the lens-maker’s formula:

1/ f (λ ) = (n(λ ) − 1)(1/ R1 − 1/ R2 )

Here, the refractive index is larger for

blue than red, so the focal length is
less for blue than red.

You can model spherical aberration

using ray matrices, but only one color
at a time.
 Chromatic aberration can be
minimized using additional lenses
In an Achromat, the second lens cancels the dispersion of the first.

Achromats use
two different
materials, and
one has a
negative focal
length.
 Chromatic aberrations
1 1 1 
= ( nl − 1)  − 
f  R1 R2 

Refraction index n depends on wavelength

Chromatic aberrations
A.CA: axial chromatic
aberration

1 1 1 
= ( nl − 1)  − 
f  R1 R2 

L.CA: lateral chromatic aberration

 Achromatic Doublets
Combine positive and
negative lenses so that red
and blue rays focus at the
same point
Achromatized for red and blue

1 1 1 d 1 1 1 
= ( nl − 1)  − 
For two thin lenses d apart: = + − f  R1 R2 
f f1 f 2 f1 f 2
ρ
1
= ( n1 − 1) ρ1 + ( n2 − 1) ρ 2 − d ( n1 − 1) ρ1 ( n2 − 1) ρ 2
f
( n1R − 1) ρ1 + ( n2 R − 1) ρ 2 − d ( n1R − 1) ρ1 ( n2 R − 1) ρ 2 =
Achromat: fR=fB
= ( n1B − 1) ρ1 + ( n2 B − 1) ρ 2 − d ( n1B − 1) ρ1 ( n2 B − 1) ρ 2
http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/aberrations/chromatic/index.html
 Achromatic Doublets
( n1R − 1) ρ1 + ( n2 R − 1) ρ 2 − d ( n1R − 1) ρ1 ( n2 R − 1) ρ 2 =
= ( n1B − 1) ρ1 + ( n2 B − 1) ρ 2 − d ( n1B − 1) ρ1 ( n2 B − 1) ρ 2

Simple case: d = 0

ρ1 n2 B − n2 R
Focal length in yellow light =
(between red and blue): ρ 2 n1B − n1R
1
= ( nY − 1) ρ
fY Combine:
ρ1 ( n2Y − 1) f 2Y
=
ρ 2 ( n1Y − 1) f1Y
f 2Y
=−
( n2 B − n2 R ) ( n2Y − 1)
f1Y ( n1B − n1R ) ( n1Y − 1)
 Achromatic Doublets
f 2Y
=−
( n2 B − n2 R ) ( n2Y − 1)
f1Y ( n1B − n1R ) ( n1Y − 1)

n2 B − n2 R n1B − n1R
Dispersive powers:
n2Y − 1 n1Y − 1
n2Y − 1 n1Y − 1
Abbe numbers (dispersive indices, V-numbers): V1 = V2 =
n2 B − n2 R n1B − n1R
f 2Y V1
=− f 2YV2 + f1YV1 = 0
f1Y V2
Typical BYR colors: λ B= 486.1327 nm (F-line of hydrogen)
λ Y = 587.5618 nm (D3 line of helium)
λ R = 656.2816 nm (C-line of hydrogen)
Table of V numbers - page 270
http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/aberrations/chromatic/index.html
 Achromatic lenses Crown
Flint

Flint
Achromatic triplet: Cooke triplet
focus match for 3 wavelengths (Denis Taylor, 1893)

http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/aberrations/chromatic/index.html Crown
 Achromatic doublet: example
Design an achromatic doublet with f = 50 cm
Use thin lens approximation.

f1 f 1 1 1
Solution: f 2V2 + f1V1 = 0 f2 = = +
f1 − f f f1 f 2
f1 f
V2 + f1V1 = 0
f1 − f
V1 − V2 V −V
f1 = f f2 = 2 1 f
V1 V2
Technically: want smaller R, i.e. longest possible f1 and f2
Solution: use two materials with drastically different V
Use figure 6.39 (page 271)
 Achromatic doublet: example

V2= 36.37

V1= 63.46

V
 Achromatic doublet: example
Design an achromatic doublet with f = 50 cm

Solution: V1 − V2 V2 − V1
f1 = f f2 = f
V1 V2

f1 =
( 63.46 − 36.37 )
0.50 = 0.2134 m f 2 = −0.3724 m
63.46
f1 f2 1 1 1  n1=1.51009 (for yellow line!)
= ( nl − 1)  − 
f  R1 R2  n2 = 1.62004
Negative lens:
1  1 1
= ( n2 − 1)  −  R1 = f 2 ( n2 − 1) = −0.2309 m
f2  R1 ∞ 
Positive lens:
1 1 1 
= ( n1 − 1)  −  R1 = 0.2059 m
f1 R
 1 − 0. 2309 m 
Spherical aberration as “the parent of all
other aberrations”
• Coma and astigmatism can be thought of as the aberrations
from a de-centered bundle of spherically aberrated rays
• Ray bundle on axis shows spherical aberration only
• Ray bundle slightly de-centered shows coma
• Ray bundle more de-centered shows astigmatism
• All generated from subsets of a larger centered bundle of
spherically aberrated rays
– (diagrams follow)
Spherical aberration as the parent of coma

Big bundle of spherically

aberrated rays

De-centered subset of
rays produces coma
 Coma

Note that centroid shifts:

Rays from a comatic Through-focus spot

wavefront diagram for coma
Spherical aberration as the parent of
astigmatism

Big bundle of spherically

aberrated rays

More-decentered subset of rays

produces astigmatism
 Astigmatism

Top view of rays

Through-focus spot
diagram for astigmatism
Side view of rays
 Concept Question
• How do you suppose eyeglasses correct for
astigmatism?
 Off-axis object is equivalent to having a de-
Spherical surface centered ray bundle

New optical axis

Ray bundle from an off-axis For any field angle there will be an optical
object. How to view this as axis, which is ⊥ to the surface of the
a de-centered ray bundle? optic and || to the incoming ray bundle.
The bundle is de-centered wrt this axis.
•Extra
 Zernike Polynomials
• Convenient basis set for expressing
wavefront aberrations over a circular pupil
• Zernike polynomials are orthogonal to each
other
• A few different ways to normalize – always
check definitions!
 Piston

Tip-tilt
Astigmatism
(3rd order)

Defocus
Trefoil

Coma
“Ashtray”

Spherical

Astigmatism
(5th order)
 Units: Radians of phase / (D / r0)5/6

Tip-tilt is single biggest contributor

Focus, astigmatism,
coma also big
High-order terms go
on and on….

Reference: Noll
 Seidel polynomials vs. Zernike polynomials

• Seidel polynomials also describe aberrations

• At first glance, Seidel and Zernike aberrations look very similar
• Zernike aberrations are an orthogonal set of functions used to
decompose a given wavefront at a given field point into its
components
– Zernike modes add to the Seidel aberrations the correct amount of
low-order modes to minimize rms wavefront error
• Seidel aberrations are used in optical design to predict the aberrations
in a design and how they will vary over the system’s field of view
• The Seidel aberrations have an analytic field-dependence—
proportional to some power of field angle
 References for Zernike Polynomials

• Books:
– Hardy pages 95-96 READ THIS

• Pivotal Paper: Noll, R. J. 1976, “Zernike polynomials and atmospheric

turbulence”, JOSA 66, page 207
 Review of important points

• Both lenses and mirrors can focus and collimate light

• Equations for system focal lengths, magnifications are quite similar for
lenses and for mirrors
– But be careful of sign conventions
• Telescopes are combinations of two or more optical elements
– Main function: to gather lots of light
– Secondary function: magnification
• Aberrations occur both due to your local instrument’s optics and to
the atmosphere
– Can describe both with Zernike polynomials
 Spherical aberrations
Paraxial approximation:
n1 n2 n2 − n1
+ =
so si R

deviation from the first-order theory

n n n −n  n  1 1
2
n 1 1
2

Third order: 1 + 2 = 2 1 + h 2  1  +  + 2  −  
so si R  2 so  so R  2 si  R si  
L.SA = longitudinal spherical aberrations
image of an on-axis object is longitudinally stretched
positive L.SA - marginal rays intersect in front of Fparaxial

T.SA = Transverse (lateral) spherical aberrations

image of an on-axis object is blurred in image plane
 Wavefront aberrations

John William Strutt

(Lord Rayleigh)
1842-1919

Lord Rayleigh criterion: wavefront aberration of λ /4 produces

noticeably degraded image (light intensity of a point object image
drops by ~20%)
 Zero SA

For points P and P’ SA is zero

Oil-immersion microscope objective

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/aberrations/spherical/
 Minimizing spherical
aberration in a focus
R2 + R1 R1 = Front surface R2 = Back surface
q≡
R2 − R1 radius of curvature radius of curvature

Plano-convex lenses (with their flat surface facing the focus) are best
for minimizing spherical aberration when focusing.
One-to-one imaging works best with a symmetrical lens (q = ∞).