Optical Transport Matrices

Introduces matrix optical system analysis and simulates how to determine a system matrix from object and image distance measurements.

This Live Script ntroduces and applies matrix operator techniques for optical system analysis and simulates how the matrix parameters of any optical system may be determined from multiple measurements of image distance versus object distance. It uses symbolic methods to derive formulae for the image and object distance relationship, and front and back focal distances, from an arbitrary optical transport matrix. It then illustrates how to find these distances for a simple combination of lenses. It then simulates how measurements of image and object distances can determine the transport matrix elements of any optical system, examines the equivalence of optical systems, reducing in effect any system to a canonical form, and shows how to find the principal planes and front and back focal lengths of an optical system.

The script is structured as a tutorial appropriate for physics students and offers several "Try this" suggestions for exploration.