Modeling the polarization aberrations of optical elements (Conference Presentation)

Kyle Hawkins; Russell Chipman

doi:10.1117/12.2274487

19 September 2017 Modeling the polarization aberrations of optical elements (Conference Presentation)

Kyle Hawkins, Russell Chipman

Proceedings Volume 10407, Polarization Science and Remote Sensing VIII; 1040708 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2274487
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2017, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Conventional ray tracing calculates the shape of wavefronts, but not their amplitudes or polarization states. Thin films, polarizers, diffraction gratings, crystals and even lenses, in addition to affecting the shape of wavefronts make contributions to the relative phase and amplitude of the light in an Optical System. These contributions will vary with polarization, field, and pupil position, adversely affecting the system performance. For sensitive optical systems, it is necessary to design around these effects with polarization ray tracing algorithms which are not only related to the optical path length, but include polarization dependent surface effects. This is done by supplementing the optical path length with calculations of the polarization ray tracing matrix (PRT). The adverse effects can then be described as the deviations from an identity Jones Pupil (polarization aberration), and Zernike polynomials can then be used to provide a simplified generalization of the polarization aberration that is still accurate. The Zernike terms will describe the amplitude transmission along the ray paths, the amplitude aberration, which is normally unavailable with a geometrical ray trace, and the Zernike terms will have the relative phase accumulations along ray paths, that describe phase variation with polarization state. Three different optical elements will be modeled: a wire grid polarizer, an anisotropic diffraction grating, and an injection molded lens with the polarization ray tracing software, Polaris-M. For each optical element, the polarization aberrations will be calculated and fit to Zernike polynomials. The effects of the aberrations on system performance will then be discussed and categorized.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Kyle Hawkins and Russell Chipman "Modeling the polarization aberrations of optical elements (Conference Presentation)", Proc. SPIE 10407, Polarization Science and Remote Sensing VIII, 1040708 (19 September 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2274487

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTATION

WATCH
PRESENTATION SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

KEYWORDS

Polarization

Ray tracing

Optical components

Diffraction gratings

Geometrical optics

Polarizers

Wavefronts

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years