Aberrations

Aberrations are distortions that occur in images

images, usually due to
imperfections in lenses, some unavoidable, some avoidable.
They include:

Aberrations Chromatic aberration

p
Spherical aberration
Astigmatism
Coma
Curvature of field

distortion (Pincushion and Barrel )

Most aberrations can’t be modeled with rayy matrices. Designers

g 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
Third order aberrations
M
Monochromatic
h ti aberrations
b ti - rays deviate
d i t from
f Gaussian
G i optics
ti
• sin θ terms in Snell’s law can be expanded in power series
ϕ3 ϕ5 ϕ7 n sin θ = n’ sin θ’
Taylor series: sin ϕ = ϕ − + − + ...
3! 5! 7!
Paraxial approximation: sin ϕ ≈ ϕ n ( θ - θ3/3! + θ5/5! + …) = n’ ( θ’ - θ’3/3! + θ’5/5! + …)
Third order theory: sin ϕ ≈ ϕ −
ϕ 3

• Paraxial ray approximation: keep only θ terms (first order optics;

3!
ys propagate
rays p op g e nearly
e y along
o g optical
op c axis)s)
D
Departures
t from
f the
th first
fi t order
d theory
th observed
b d in
i the
th third
thi d order
d
leave to the following primary aberrations: • Third order aberrations: result from adding θ 3 terms
• spherical aberrations – Spherical aberration,
aberration coma,
coma astigmatism
astigmatism, .....
• coma
Philipp Ludwig Seidel “The five Seidel
(1821-1896)
g
• astigmatism
aberrations”
aberrations
• field curvature
• distortion
 Spherical Aberration in Mirrors
Spherical Aberration
For all rays to converge to a point a distance f away from a curved
mirror
i requires
i a paraboloidal
b l id l surface.
f
.

Spherical surface Paraboloidal surface

But this only works for rays with θin = 0.

0

Hubble telescope
H bbl S
Hubble Space T
Telescope
l suffered
ff d from
f
Spherical Aberration

• IIn a C
Cassegrain
i telescope,
l the
h hyperboloid
h b l id off the
h primary
i
mirror must match the specs of the secondary mirror. For COSTAR - corrective optics
HST they didn’t
didn t match.
match space telescope
l axial
i l
replacement module
 Spherical aberrations
Spherical
p Aberration in Lenses
Paraxial approximation (First order):
So we use spherical
p surfaces,, which work better for a wider n1 n2 n2 − n1
range of input angles. + = i ϕ ≈ϕ
Paraxial approximation: sin
so si R
Nevertheless, off-axis rays see a different focal length, so
lenses have spherical aberration, too.

deviation from the first-order theory

n n n −n ⎡ n ⎛1 1⎞ 2
n2 ⎛ 1 1 ⎞
2
⎤
Third order: 1 + 2 = 2 1 + h 2 ⎢ 1 ⎜ + + ⎜⎜ − ⎥
⎜
so si R ⎢⎣ 2 so ⎝ so R ⎠ 2 si ⎝ R si ⎠ ⎥⎦

Third order theory: sin ϕ ≈ ϕ −

ϕ3
3!

Spherical aberrations
Spherical
p Aberration in Lenses
ΣLC - circle of least confusion, smallest image blur
So we use spherical
p 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.

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
 Different ways to illustrate
Lens arrangement and S.A
.
optical aberrations
Spherical aberration depends on lens arrangement: Side view of a fan of “Spot diagram”: Image
rays at different focus
(No aberrations) positions

1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4 5

Spherical aberration

• How to fixed spherical

aberration

Rays from a spherically

Through-focus spot diagram
aberrated wavefront focus
f spherical
for h i l aberration
b ti
at different planes
 Coddington Shape factor Coddington Shape factor curves
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=?

Coddigton Position factor Minimum S.A

• . • .
i+o i+o R +R
o P= P= ϕ= 2 1

i i−o i−o R −R 2 1

Example: From “introduction to Geometrical and

Physical optics
optics” p 86-94;
o =5 cm
Minimum S.A happens when:
i 10
i=10
2(n − 1)
2

P=[10+(-5)]/[10-(-5) =1/3
ϕ=− P
n+2
The radius of lens with minimum of Spherical
S.A aberration can
be also
• From lens maker equation: minimized
1 1 1
using additional
= (n − 1)( − ) lenses
f R R 1 2

R +R
ϕ= 2 1

R −R
2 1
The additional
lenses cancel
2 f (n − 1)
R = the spherical
p
1
ϕ +1 aberration of the
first.
2 f (n − 1)
R =
2
ϕ −1

Refractive Gradients Theory of refractive Gradient

• Spherical aberration can be also minimized using gradient • .
index lens . ∆L
n
λ ∆L = Rδ
∆yn n`` ∆L`
δ
no – SA: (gradient lens) R 1
δ = ∇ .∆L n
n
1 ∂n
SA: normal lens The angle
g is a function of the δ = ∫ dL
n ∂y
y
gradient index n and the length
of path traversed.
 Theory of refractive Gradient Example
1cm
n=1.4
1 The intergral is taken over the length L, traversed by the Determine
δ = ∇ .∆L light. If: 5cm
n
n
-The
The angle of deflection of light
-The radius of curvature which the light is bent. n=1.6
1 ∂n 1-The L is relatively short
δ = ∫ dL Solution
n ∂y
y
2- The medium is honomgeneous
n = (1.4+1.6)/2=1.5
1 ∂n 1 ∂n
δ = L δ = L
n ∂y n ∂y
y y

1 ∂n 1 0.2
∆L = Rδ = R L δ= (0.01) = 0.02667rad = 1.53 0

n ∂y 1.5 0.05
∆L = L n 1.5
R= =
n ∂n 0.2 5
R =
∂n ∂y
∂y

For objects-image
objects image pints that are off
off-axis
axis the
aberration is called coma
• Coma
• Coma
Co
• 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.
The lens magnification is depend on the lens
diameter and θ
 Coma Coma
Coma
causes rays
from an off-axis point off the axis depicted as comet shaped blob
point of light in the
object plane to create
a trailing "comet-like"
bl di
blur directed
t d away ffrom
the optic axis. A lens with
considerable coma may
produce a sharp image in
the center of the field, but
become increasingly gy
blurred toward the edges.
For a single lens, coma can
be caused or partially
corrected by tilting the lens.
Marc Pollefeys

Coma (comatic aberration) Coma (comatic aberration)

Reason: principal planes are not flat but curved surfaces

Focal length is different for off-axis
off axis points/rays

V i l coma
Vertical

Negative coma: meridional rays

focus closer to the principal axis

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

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

“Z i orthometer.”
“Zeiss th t ”

Where does astigmatism come from?

• Astigmatism
s g s

From Ian McLean, UCLA

 Astigmatism θ

Different view of astigmatism When the optical system

lacks perfect cylindrical
symmetry, we say it
has astigmatism.
g A
simple cylindrical
lens or off-axis
curved mirror
curved-mirror
reflection will
cause this
problem.
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 Oblique astigmatism

Meridional planes differ for off
off-axis
axis
points • Occurs when rays of
light strike a spherical
lens obliquely-
• Line of sight not
parallel with principal
axis of lens

http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/aberrations/astigmatism/
 Astigmatism

Different focal length for inclined rays

• Curvature of field

Marc Pollefeys

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

Negative lens has field plane

that curves
c r es aaway
a 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
 Pincushion and Barrel Distortion

• distortion

These distortions are fixed by an

“orthoscopic doublet” or a “Zeiss
orthometer.”

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

Barrel

Pincushion

http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/aberrations/distortion/index.html
 Correcting monochromatic aberrations Chromatic
• Use combinations of lenses with mutually canceling Ab
Aberration
i
aberration effects Because the lens material has a different refractive index for each
wavelength, the lens will have a different focal length for each
• Use apertures wavelength. Recall the lens-maker’s formula:
• Use aspherical elements
1/ f (λ ) = (n(λ ) − 1)(1/ R1 − 1/ R2 )

Here, the refractive index is larger for

Here
blue than red, so the focal length is
less for blue than red.
E
Example:
l

You can model spherical aberration

using ray matrices, but only one color
at a time.

Chromatic aberrations
Chromatic aberration can be
1 ⎛1 1 ⎞
minimized using additional lenses f
= (nl − 1)⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟
⎝ R1 R2 ⎠

In an Achromat, the second lens cancels the dispersion of the first.

Achromats use
two different
materials,
t i l and d
one has a
negative focal
length.

Refraction index n depends on wavelength

 Chromatic aberrations Achromatic Doublets
A.CA: axial chromatic Combine positive and
aberration negative lenses so that red
and blue rays focus at the
same point
Achromatized for red and blue

1 ⎛1 1 ⎞ 1 1 1 ⎛1 1 ⎞
= (nl − 1)⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟
1
d = (nl − 1)⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟
f ⎝ R1 R2 ⎠ For two thin lenses d apart: = + − f ⎝ 1
R 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)ρ2 − d (n1R − 1)ρ1 (n2 R − 1)ρ2 =
L.CA: lateral chromatic aberration 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 Achromatic Doublets

(n1R − 1)ρ1 + (n2 R − 1)ρ2 − d (n1R − 1)ρ1 (n2 R − 1)ρ2 = f 2Y (n − n2 R ) (n2Y − 1)
= − 2B
= (n1B − 1)ρ1 + (n2 B − 1)ρ 2 − d (n1B − 1)ρ1 (n2 B − 1)ρ 2 f1Y (n1B − n1R ) (n1Y − 1)
Simple case: d = 0
n2 B − n2 R n1B − n1R
Dispersive powers:
ρ1 n2 B − n2 R n2Y − 1 n1Y − 1
Focal length in yellow light =
(b t
(between redd andd blue):
bl ) ρ 2 n1B − n1R n2Y − 1 n1Y − 1
Abbe numbers (dispersive indices, V-numbers): V1 = V2 =
1 n2 B − n2 R n1B − n1R
= (nY − 1)ρ
fY Combine: f 2Y V
=− 1 f 2YV2 + f1YV1 = 0
ρ1 (n2Y − 1) f 2Y f1Y V2
=
ρ 2 (n1Y − 1) f1Y λB = 486.1327 nm (F-line of hydrogen)
f 2Y (n − n2 R ) (n2Y − 1)
= − 2B
Typical BYR colors:
λY = 587.5618 nm (D3 line of helium)
f1Y (n1B − n1R ) (n1Y − 1) λR = 656.2816
656 2816 nm (C
(C-line
line of hydrogen)
Table of V numbers - page 270
http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/aberrations/chromatic/index.html
 Achromatic lenses Crown Achromatic doublet: example
Flint 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
Flint
Solution: use two materials with drastically different V
Achromatic triplet: Cooke triplet
Use figure 6.39 (page 271)
focus match for 3 wavelengths (Denis Taylor, 1893)

http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/aberrations/chromatic/index.html Crown

Achromatic doublet: example Achromatic doublet: example

Design an achromatic doublet with f = 50 cm

V2= 36.37 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
V1= 63.46
f1 f2 1 ⎛1 1 ⎞ n1=1.51009
1 51009 (for yellow line!)
= (nl − 1)⎜⎜ − ⎟
f ⎝ 1
R R2 ⎠
n2 = 1.62004
Negative lens:
1 ⎛ 1 1⎞
= (n2 − 1)⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟ R1 = f 2 (n2 − 1) = −0.2309 m
f2 ⎝ R1 ∞ ⎠
Positive lens:
V 1 ⎛1 1 ⎞
= (n1 − 1)⎜⎜ − ⎟ R1 = 0.2059 m
f1 ⎝ R1 − 0.2309m ⎠
S h i l aberration
Spherical b ti as “the
“th parentt off all
ll
Spherical aberration as the parent of coma
other aberrations”
• Coma and astigmatism can be thought of as the aberrations
from a de-centered
de centered bundle of spherically aberrated rays
• Ray bundle on axis shows spherical aberration only
• Ray bundle slightly de-centered
de centered shows coma Big bundle of spherically
aberrated rays
• Ray bundle more de-centered shows astigmatism
• All generated
t d from
f subsets
b t off a larger
l centered
t d bundle
b dl off
spherically aberrated rays
– (diagrams follow)

De-centered subset of
rays produces coma

S h i l aberration
Spherical b ti as the
th parentt off
Coma astigmatism

N t th
Note thatt centroid
t id shifts:
hift

Big bundle of spherically

aberrated
b t d rays

Rays from a comatic Through-focus spot

wavefront
f t diagram for
f coma More-decentered subset of rays
produces astigmatism
 Astigmatism Concept Question
• How do you suppose eyeglasses correct for
astigmatism?

Top view of rays

Through-focus spot
diagram for astigmatism
Side view of rays

Off axis object is equivalent to having a de-

Off-axis de
Spherical
p surface centered rayy bundle

•Extra
E t
New optical axis

Ray bundle from an off-axis

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

Piston

Astigmatism
(3rd order)

Tip-tilt
Defocus
e ocus
 “Ashtray”
y

Trefoil
Spherical

Coma

Astigmatism
g
(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
on….

Reference: Noll
 Seidel polynomials vs. Zernike polynomials References for Zernike Polynomials

• Seidel polynomials also describe aberrations • Books:

• At first glance,
glance Seidel and Zernike aberrations look very similar – Hardy pages 95
95-96
96 READ THIS
• Zernike aberrations are an orthogonal set of functions used to
decompose a given wavefront at a given field point into its components • Pivotal Paper: Noll, R. J. 1976, “Zernike polynomials and atmospheric
turbulence”, JOSA 66,
turbulence 66 page 207
– Zernike modes add to the Seidel aberrations the correct amount of
low-order modes to minimize rms wavefront error
• S id l aberrations
Seidel b ti are usedd in
i optical
ti l design
d i tot predict
di t the
th aberrations
b ti
in a design and how they will vary over the system’s field of view
• The Seidel aberrations have an analytic
y field-dependence—
p
proportional to some power of field angle

Spherical aberrations
Review of important points Paraxial approximation:
n1 n2 n2 − n1
+ =
so si R
• 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 deviation from the first-order theory
• Telescopes are combinations of two or more optical elements ⎡ n2 ⎛ 1 1 ⎞ ⎤
2 2
n1 n2 n2 − n1 2 n1 ⎛ 1 1⎞
– Main function: to gather lots of light Third order: + = +h ⎢ ⎜⎜ + ⎟⎟ + ⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟ ⎥
– Secondary function: magnification so si R ⎢⎣ 2 so ⎝ so R ⎠ 2 si ⎝ R si ⎠ ⎥⎦
• Aberrations occur both due to your local instrument’s optics and to the
atmosphere L.SA = longitudinal spherical aberrations
– Can describe both with Zernike polynomials
p y image of an on
on-axis
axis object is longitudinally stretched
positive L.SA - marginal rays intersect in front of Fparaxial

T.SA = Transverse ((lateral)) spherical

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

John William Strutt

(Lord Rayleigh)
1842-1919

Lord Rayleigh criterion: wavefront aberration of λ/4 produces For pointss P and
o po d P’ S
SA iss zero
eo
noticeably degraded image (light intensity of a point object image
p by
drops y ~20%)) Oil immersion microscope objective
Oil-immersion
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
f minimizing
for i i i i spherical
h i l aberration
b ti when h ffocusing.
i
One-to-one imaging works best with a symmetrical lens (q = ∞).