TY - JOUR
T1 - Restricted characteristic functions tor general optical configurations
AU - Forbes, G. W.
AU - Stone, Bryan D.
PY - 1993
Y1 - 1993
N2 - Hamilton’s six-variable characteristic functions are unwieldy for many practical applications. However, the desired optical characterization can often be given in the form of a simpler, restricted characteristic function of four variables. It is shown here that, as conventionally defined, these four-variable characteristics are incomplete for general analyses: They must be supplemented by information about ray sense. In fact, the functional form of each of the point, mixed, and angle characteristics is shown to involve the ray sense explicitly. The characterization of a homogeneous region is studied in detail to provide the foundation for a Hamiltonian analysis of generally configured systems of mirrors and homogeneous lenses.
AB - Hamilton’s six-variable characteristic functions are unwieldy for many practical applications. However, the desired optical characterization can often be given in the form of a simpler, restricted characteristic function of four variables. It is shown here that, as conventionally defined, these four-variable characteristics are incomplete for general analyses: They must be supplemented by information about ray sense. In fact, the functional form of each of the point, mixed, and angle characteristics is shown to involve the ray sense explicitly. The characterization of a homogeneous region is studied in detail to provide the foundation for a Hamiltonian analysis of generally configured systems of mirrors and homogeneous lenses.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027610566&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1364/JOSAA.10.001263
DO - 10.1364/JOSAA.10.001263
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0027610566
VL - 10
SP - 1263
EP - 1269
JO - Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics and Image Science, and Vision
JF - Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics and Image Science, and Vision
SN - 1084-7529
IS - 6
ER -