Lens systems can incorporate diffractive optical elements or surfaces. A diffractive surface provides unique advantages for the optical designer, enabling lens systems to be simplified. This book covers all aspects of the design of diffractive lens systems, and is an essential reference for incorporating diffractive optical elements into imaging systems. Topics include paraxial imaging theory, aberration theory, ray tracing, image formation theory, tolerancing, image quality modelling by scalar diffraction theory and diffractive lens design in commercial lens design software. Design examples are used to illustrate key aspects of the design processes, with files available in CODEV and Zemax. The key audiences for this text include optical designers, optical system engineers and postgraduate students in optical science and engineering.

Key Features:

• A unique and comprehensive treatment of the design of optical systems incorporating diffractive surfaces.

• An essential text for the optical designer contemplating the use of diffractive surfaces to improve their optical system.

• Presents a new and consistent approach to the development of aberration and image formation theory applied to diffractive lenses.

• Provides detailed knowledge, software tools and design examples to reduce the optical engineer’s learning curve in the understanding of the unique properties of these optical elements.

• Brings all the relevant material associated with diffractive lens design into a single volume, including a comprehensive set of references.