ANALYSIS OF THE DISTORTIONS OF NONAXISYMMETRIC OPTICAL-SYSTEMS

A method is proposed for analyzing the distortions of nonaxisymmetric optical systems, based on expanding them in series with an accuracy up to third-order terms. It is shown that this expansion is complete, an d the physical meaning of its components is considered. A description is given of a program or estimating the distortion components and thei r statistical contribution to the total distortion. An example of the operation of the program is considered. (C) 1996 The Optical Society o f America.