On the realization of optical mappings and transformation of amplitudes by means of an aspherical "thick" lens

Abstract

The constraints for the realization of a given optical mapping by means of an aspherical ''thick" lens are investigated by using the laws of geometrical optics. The analysis yields us a partial differential equation which the optical mapping functions must satisfy as a necessary and sufficient condition. It is shown that thick lenses, which convert plane waves to plane waves, can be considered as a pure amplitude element, An interesting feature of this equation is that it does not involve the lens profiles. The problem of realization is later discussed for some special mappings and graphical illustrations of the aspherical lens profiles for a linear mapping are presented.