Realization of first order optical systems using thin lenses

Abstract

A first order optical system is investigated in full generality within the context of wave optics. The problem is reduced to a study of the ray transfer matrices. The simplest such systems correspond to axially symmetric propagation. Realization of such systems by centrally located lenses separated by finite distances is studied. Every axially symmetric first order system is realized using at most three lenses. Among anisotropic systems it is proven that every symplectic ray transfer matrix, and no others, is realized using lenses and free propagations. Suggestions for further study of the general first order system are outlined.