Aberrated Imaging and Propagation (3 units). Diffraction effects of aberrations in imaging systems with circular, annular, and Gaussian pupils, and imaging through atmospheric turbulence. Prerequisite: OPTI 503

Course Outline: This is only offered online.

1. Fundamentals of Image Formation
   • Diffraction theory of image formation with emphasis on aberrations
   • Compare diffraction and geometrical PSFs and OTFs
   • Strehl, Hopkins, and Struve ratios
   • Asymptotic behavior of PSF


2. Imaging by systems with circular pupils
   • Aberration-free PSF and beam focusing
   • Strehl ratio and aberration balancing and tolerance
   • Zernike circle polynomial expansion of aberration function
   • Aberrated PSF and its symmetry properties
   • Encircled and ensquared power
   • Aberrated OTF and Hopkins ratio
   • Line of sight and centroid of PSF of an aberrated system
   • Line-spread function and Struve ratio
   • Polychromatic PSFs and OTFs


3. Imaging by systems with annular pupils
   • Discuss similar topics as for systems with circular pupils, including Zernike annular polynomials


4. Imaging by systems with Gaussian pupils
   • Effect of Gaussian apodization on PSF and OTF
   • Zernike-Gauss polynomials and aberration balancing
   • Propagation of Gaussian beams


5. Random Aberrations
   • Random image motion
   • Fabrication errors
   • Propagation through atmospheric turbulence

Mahajan, Virendra N. (2004). Optical Imaging and Aberrations: Part I. Ray Geometrical Optics. SPIE Press.

Mahajan, Virendra N. (2004). Optical Imaging and Aberrations: Part II. Wave Diffraction Optics. SPIE Press.

40% Homework
30% Midterm
30% Final