Real world optical systems have optical components which are not perfectly aligned. The alignment errors degrade image quality.^1,2 The effects of expected alignment errors must be analyzed for each potential optical design to objectively evaluate its anticipated "as built" performance. The value of using optical alignment tolerancing as a figure of merit in the optical design phase of a catadioptric lens is demonstrated. The result is a high performance optical system which can be sized for hand held airborne reconnaissance or long range spaceborne reconnaissance. The effects of sizing on alignment tolerance are presented.

Date Published: 9 January 1984
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 0424, Airborne Reconnaissance VII, (9 January 1984); doi: 10.1117/12.936203

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 0424:
Airborne Reconnaissance VII
Paul A. Henkel, Editor(s)