Masters Thesis Defense - Tailoring the Optical Response of Imaging Systems in the Transverse and Axial Directions using a Fourier Transform Approach

Who: Charles Tuvey

Time: 12:30 PM, Wednesday, March 21st, 2007

Place: P-250

Abstract: In this thesis we show how the imaging properties of lenses can be modified by making use of complex pupil functions. It is well known that the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern in the transverse focal plane of a lens is proportional to a Fourier transform of the pupil function. We show how this diffraction pattern can be tailored to numerous applications by modifying our pupil function. We also show how, in scalar diffraction theory, by making a change of variables in the Fresnel diffraction equation, we derive a Fourier transform relationship between a complex pupil function and the axial optical response near the focus of a lens. We designed, optimized, and obtained experimental results for several pupil functions, with exceptional results.

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