Optical matrix applied to the centered systems : Principle of matrix optics

Principle of matrix optics
Optical matrix applied to the centered systems

Authors : Christophe LABBÉ, Benoît PLANCOULAINE

Review date: April 12, 2021 | Lire en français

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2. Principle of matrix optics

2.1 Writing the transfer matrix

In optics, the name transfer matrix is given to any matrix used to calculate the coordinates of a light ray as it propagates. The word transfer is used generically in physics to indicate the transformation of a physical quantity, generally linear, by a device (or by a material), which can be modeled by a matrix (or a tensor). It's a kind of "black box" into which the coordinates of a light beam are "transformed".

The principle of matrix optics is relatively simple.

A total optical system is made up of several optical subsystems, such as a thick lens followed by a thin lens (figure

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Principle of matrix optics