Paraxial surface

A paraxial surface represents an ideal lens which is free of geometric or chromatic aberrations. During ray analysis, an incoming collimated beam is focussed down to a spot size of zero. During energy analysis, the light is not modified.

Analysis

Ports

input_1

Input port.

output_1

Light ouput. This port represents the light having passed this ideal lens.

Properties

focal length

The focal length of this ideal lens. A positive values denotes a focussing lens.

optic shape

Transversal extent of the ideal lens. Only rays within it are focussed. A ray outside of it follows the analyzer’s missed surface strategy: with Ignore it passes unchanged, with Stop it is lost (see Optic shape). Defaults to a circle of 12.5 mm radius. As an idealization, the paraxial surface may also be unbounded (Open): it then focusses every ray, however far off the axis.