Diffractive Lens Design

Lens systems can incorporate diffractive optical elements or surfaces. A diffractive surface provides unique advantages for the optical designer, enabling lens systems to be simplified. However, they also introduce potentially undesirable features which need to be understood and controlled in the design process. This book discusses the design of lens systems which incorporate diffractive optical elements or surfaces.

All aspects of the design of diffractive lens systems are covered, and the book is an essential reference for incorporating diffractive optical elements into imaging systems. Topics include paraxial imaging theory, aberration theory, ray tracing, image formation theory, tolerancing, image quality modelling by scalar diffraction theory and diffractive lens design in commercial lens design software. Design examples are used to illustrate key aspects of the design processes, with files available in CODEV and Zemax. The key audiences for this text include optical designers, optical system engineers and postgraduate students in optical science and engineering.