Geometric Optics

This book unique in the literature provides readers with the mathematical background needed to design many of the optical combinations that are used in astronomical telescopes and cameras. The results presented in the work were obtained by using a different approach to third-order aberration theory as well as the extensive use of the software package Mathematica�. The newly presented approach to third-order aberration theory allows for easy derivation of third-order formulae, without the need for the much more complex Hamiltonian formalism and Seidel's relations. Other features include a detailed presentation of the third-order design of cameras and telescopes with the aid of Mathematica; Mathematica notebooks accompanying each optical combination analyzed in the book and additional supplementary material available for download at the publisher's website; discussion and analysis of specific optical devices: Newtonian and Cassegrain telescopes; Schmidt, Wright, Houghton, and Maksutov cameras; and other optical combinations, such as the Klevtsov telescope and the Baker Schmidt flat-field camera; and many worked-out examples and exercises. Geometric Optics is an excellent reference for advanced graduate students, researchers, and practitioners in applied mathematics, engineering, astronomy, and astronomical optics. The work may be used as a supplementary textbook for graduate-level courses in astronomical optics, optical design, optical engineering, programming with Mathematica, or geometric optics.