Tilted plane wave through a 2 lens system

In summary, when a collimated beam is incident on the first lens with focal length f1, the angle of incidence is ## \theta ## and the angle of emergence is ## \theta'=d/f_2 ##. The angle of emergence is the angle of the collimated beam after it has passed through the second lens and is now emerging from the system. The angle of emergence is flipped if the angle of incidence is tilted by an angle theta.
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Skaiserollz89
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TL;DR Summary
How does the incident angle of a collimated beam relate to the output angle after passage through a two-lens system with f1=910mm and f2=40mm and Magnification=-f2/f1=.044?
I have 2 lenses. L1 and L2 with focal lengths f1=910mm and f2=40mm, respectively. They are separated by a distance d=f1+f2. The magnification of the system is M1=-f2/f1=.044. If I have a normally incident, collimated beam pass through my system I will have a beam, parallel to the optic axis exit the system, whose diameter is scaled by a factor of M1. I would like to know what happens if the incident beam is tilted at an angle theta? How does this incident angle relate to the output angle after passage through the second lens?

My initial thought was that the angle would also be scaled by a factor of M1, but I don't think this is right. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
 
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Parallel rays incident on the first lens at angle ## \theta ## will converge to a point in the focal plane of the first lens at distance off-axis of ## d= f_1 \theta ##. When they start out in the focal plane of the second lens at a distance ## d ##off axis, they will emerge at angle ## \theta'=d/f_2 ##. The result is that ## \theta'=M \theta ## with a minus sign to show its direction is flipped.
 
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  • #3
Charles Link said:
Parallel rays incident on the first lens at angle ## \theta ## will converge to a point in the focal plane of the first lens at distance off-axis of ## f_1 \theta ##. When they start out in the focal plane of the second lens at a distance ## d ##off axis, they will emerge at angle ## \theta'=d/f_2 ##. The result is that ## \theta'=M \theta ## with a minus sign to show its direction is flipped.
This is for a telescope, of course, where the focal planes are the same.
 
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Skaiserollz89 said:
TL;DR Summary: How does the incident angle of a collimated beam relate to the output angle after passage through a two-lens system with f1=910mm and f2=40mm and Magnification=-f2/f1=.044?

They are separated by a distance d=f1+f2.
DaveE said:
This is for a telescope, of course, where the focal planes are the same.
. . . . and the angular magnification is f1/f2
Skaiserollz89 said:
TL;DR Summary: How does the incident angle of a collimated beam relate to the output angle after passage through a two-lens system with f1=910mm and f2=40mm and Magnification=-f2/f1=.044?

I will have a beam, parallel to the optic axis exit the system, whose diameter is scaled by a factor of M1.
I think the 'diameter' will relate to the the aperture of the lenses. In practice, internal apertures are used.
 
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Probably outside of the scope of what the OP presently needs, but the "perfectly collimated" beam is interesting in that the light, even with perfect optics will never focus to a perfect point. Instead there is a diffraction limited focused spot size whose diameter is inversely proportional to the diameter of the collimated beam. The finite sized focused spot then becomes a source for the second lens. In the near field the beam can still be considered to be perfectly collimated, but for calculations in the far field, the beam will have a finite divergence because of the finite spot size.
 
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Charles Link said:
but for calculations in the far field, the beam will have a finite divergence because of the finite spot size.
There is another factor here which kicks in without diffraction effects. Taking a typical arrangement of two lenses to make a telescope, the eyepiece (second) lens usually has the smaller diameter and any collimated beam, focussed at 'infinity' (parallel sides, visible through smoke), for instance, will have a diameter the same as the EP. This width I not governed by focal lengths but by a limiting 'stop', somewhere in the scope. Details like the actual focussing of the arrangement and the diffraction due to each lens edge.
 
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FAQ: Tilted plane wave through a 2 lens system

What is a tilted plane wave in the context of a 2 lens system?

A tilted plane wave refers to a wavefront that is inclined at an angle to the optical axis of the lens system. In a 2 lens system, this means that the wavefront does not propagate perpendicularly to the lenses but rather at some angle, which affects how the wavefront is focused and transmitted through the system.

How does a tilted plane wave interact with a 2 lens system?

When a tilted plane wave passes through a 2 lens system, each lens modifies the wavefront according to its optical properties. The first lens typically focuses or defocuses the wavefront, while the second lens can further modify the wavefront. The tilt of the wave introduces additional phase shifts and can cause the focal points to shift laterally or axially, depending on the system's configuration.

What are the effects of lens aberrations on a tilted plane wave?

Lens aberrations, such as spherical aberration, coma, and astigmatism, can significantly distort a tilted plane wave. These aberrations cause deviations from the ideal wavefront shape, leading to image blurring, distortion, and other artifacts. The tilt exacerbates these effects because the wavefront is already at an angle, making it more susceptible to non-uniformities in the lens surfaces.

How can you mathematically describe a tilted plane wave passing through a 2 lens system?

A tilted plane wave can be described mathematically using wave optics principles. The wavefront can be represented by a plane wave equation with an added phase term to account for the tilt. When passing through each lens, the wavefront undergoes transformations described by the lens' transfer function. These transformations can be modeled using Fourier optics and matrix methods to predict the resulting wavefront after passing through the system.

What applications benefit from understanding tilted plane waves in a 2 lens system?

Understanding tilted plane waves in a 2 lens system is crucial in various applications, including optical imaging systems, laser beam shaping, and optical communication. For example, in microscopy, precise control over wavefront tilt and lens aberrations can improve image resolution and quality. In laser systems, managing tilted wavefronts ensures accurate beam delivery and focus. In optical communication, understanding wavefront propagation through lenses helps optimize signal transmission and reduce errors.

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