Ray tracing with transfer matrix method

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on ray tracing using the transfer matrix method for a simple optical system consisting of two thin lenses. The first lens has a focal distance of 50 mm, and the second lens has a focal distance of 25 mm, with a separation of 40 mm between them. The user successfully calculated the final image distance as 20.37 mm using the transfer matrix, but seeks clarification on interpreting the output rays from the simulation. The output ray parameters include an input height of 0.0002 mm and an input angle of -0.54 radians.

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mester1025
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Hi,
I'm new in physics and optics so I need a little help. I've a simple optical system from 2 thin lenses.
The first thin lens has a focal distance of 50 [mm] , and the second one has 25 [mm]. The 2 lenses are separated by 40 [mm] and the object is placed 75 [mm] before the first lens.

I've to find the position of the final image and simulate howto propagate the rays across the optical system.

So, I made a little program to determine the ray transfer matrix of the system.
This is the transfer matrix of the system:
\begin{bmatrix} 0.20-0.028x & 55-2.7x \\ -0.0028 & -2.7 \end{bmatrix}

where the x variable is the final image distance from the last lens.

If I do the following:
\begin{equation} 55-2.7x = 0\end{equation}
Then x = 20.37 [mm] , this is the image distance, exactly what I was looking for.
So the system matrix is:
\begin{bmatrix} -0.37036 & 0.001 \\ -0.0028 & -2.7 \end{bmatrix}

My problem is:

I have lots of input rays to simulate the ray propagation, but I can't understand the output rays.

For example :
\begin{equation}
\begin{bmatrix} y \\ θ \end{bmatrix}
=
\begin{bmatrix} 0.0002 \\ -0.54 \end{bmatrix}

\end{equation}
where y is the input height and θ is the input angle in radian.
\begin{equation}
\begin{bmatrix} 0.0002 \\ -0.54 \end{bmatrix}
=
\begin{bmatrix} -0.37036 & 0.001 \\ -0.0028 & -2.7 \end{bmatrix}

\begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 0.2 \end{bmatrix}
\end{equation}

Could you help me explain the output ray of the system?

I apologize for the wall of text :)
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
A ray input at height 0 and grad 0.2 will output at height 0.0002 and gradient -0.54 ... draw a box for your system of lenses, draw the input and output lines at the appropriate ends of the box.
 
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