Optics Tutorial 1 (Solutions) page 1 of 5

Q 1. Ray Tracing Using Matrix Method.

(a) Obtain the system matrix for a thick lens, and derive the thick lens and the thin lens formulae.
Solution: Let us consider a thick lens of thickness t and refractive index n. Let R1 and R2 be
the radii of curvature of the two surfaces. The ray is first assumed to strike the surface at P and
emerge from point Q.

Figure 1: A paraxial ray passing through a thick lens.

Let coordinates of the ray at P and Q be

   
λ1 λ
and 2
x1 x2
where λ1 and λ2 are the optical direction cosines of the ray at P and Q. x1 and x2 are the distances
of points P and Q from the axis. The ray, in propagating from P to Q undergoes two refractions. One
at the first surface (whose radius of curvature is R1 ) and the other at the second surface (whose ra-
dius of curvature is R2 ) and a translation through a distance t in a medium of refractive index n. Thus
      
λ2 1 −P2 1 0 1 −P1 λ1
=
x2 0 1 t/n 1 0 1 x1
n−1 n−1
where, P1 = and P2 = represents the powers of the two surfaces. Thus our system matrix
R1 R2
is given by
     
b −a 1 −P2 1 0 1 −P1
S= =
−d c 0 1 t/n 1 0 1

 t t 
1 − P2 −P1 − P2 + P1 P2
S= n n
t t

1 − P1
n n
Thus for a thick lens
 
t t t t
a = P1 + P2 1 − P1 ; b = 1 − P 2 ; c = 1 − P1 ; d = −
n n n n
 Optics Tutorial 1 (Solutions) page 2 of 5

The focal length is

(n − 1)2 t
 
1 t 1 1
= a = P1 + P2 (1 − P1 ) = (n − 1) − +
f n R1 R2 nR1 R2

For thin lens, t → 0 and the system matrix takes the form
 
1 −P1 − P2
S=
0 1

Thus for a thin lens

a = P1 + P2 ; b = 1; c = 1; d = 0
The focal length is  
1 t 1 1
= a = P1 + P2 (1 − P1 ) = (n − 1) −
f n R1 R2

(b) In continuation of the previous problem, determine the positions of the unit planes for a thick double
convex lens with |R1 | = |R2 |.
Solution: If du1 and du2 represent the distances of the unit planes from the refracting surfaces,
1−b P2 t 1
du1 = =
a n P1 + P2 (1 − t/nP1 )
c−1 P1 t 1
du2 = =−
a n P1 + P2 (1 − t/nP1 )
For a thick double convex lens with |R1 | = |R2 | = R
n−1
P1 = P2 =
R
Thus, assuming t << R for thick lens

Figure 2: Unit planes of a thick symmetric biconvex lens.

t 1 t
du1 = ≈
n t n−1 2n
2−
n R
 Optics Tutorial 1 (Solutions) page 3 of 5

t 1 t
du2 = − ≈−
n t n−1 2n
2−
n R

Q 2. Chromatic Aberration. Consider an optical system of two thin lenses made of different materials
placed in contact with each other. For example, one of the lenses may be made of crown glass and the
other of flint glass. Show that for the lens combination to have the same focal length for the blue and
red colours, we must have
ω ω′
+ ′ = 0, (2.1)
f f
where,
nb − nr n′ − n′r nb + nr
ω= , and ω ′ = b′ , n≡ . (2.2)
n−1 n −1 2
Solution: We consider an optical system of two thin lenses made of different materials placed in
contact with each other. For example, one of the lenses may be made of crown glass and othe rof
flint glass. We will find the condition for this lens combination to have the same focal length for the
blue and red colours. Let nb , ny and nr be the refractive indices for the material of the first lens
corresponding to the blue, yellow and red colours respectively. Similarly, n′b , n′y and n′r represent the
corresponding refractive indices for the second lens. If fb and fb′ represent the focal lengths for the
first and the second lens corresponding to the blue colour, and if Fb represents the focal length of the
combination of the two lenses (placed in contact), then
   
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= + ′ = (nb − 1) − + (n′b − 1) −
Fb fb fb R1 R2 R1′ R2′
where R1 and R2 represent the radii of curvature for the first and second surfaces of the first lens and
the primed quantities refer to the second lens. Thus
1 nb − 1 1 n′ − 1 1
= + b
Fb n−1 f n − 1 f′
where  
1 1 1
= (n − 1) −
f R1 R2
 
1 ′ 1 1
= (n − 1) − ′
f′ R1′ R2
Now
nb + nr n′ + n′r
n= = ny ; n′ = b = n′y
2 2
f and f ′ represent the focal lengths of the first and second lens corresponding to a mean colour which
is around the yellow region. Similarly, the focal length of the combination corresponding to the red
colour would be given by
1 nr − 1 1 n′ − 1 1
= + r
Fr n−1 f n − 1 f′
For the focal length of the combination to be equal for blue and red colours, we must have
nb − 1 1 n′ − 1 1 nr − 1 1 n′r − 1 1
+ b = +
n−1 f n − 1 f′ n−1 f n − 1 f′
ω ω′
⇒ + ′ =0
f f
where,
nb − nr n′ − n′r
ω= and ω ′ = b′
n−1 n −1
 Optics Tutorial 1 (Solutions) page 4 of 5

are known as the dispersive powers. Since ω and ω ′ are both positive, f and f ′ must be of opposite
signs for the validity of the condition. A lens combination which satisfies the condition is known as
achromatic doublet. It may be mentioned that if the two lenses are made of the same material, then
ω = ω ′ and f = −f ′ , such a combination will have an infinite focal length. Thus for an achromatic
doublet, the two lenses must be of different materials.

Figure 3: An achromatic doublet.

Q 3. Ray Tracing in Inhomogenous Media.

(a) For the refractive index variation given by,
n2 (x) = n20 + n22 (1 − e−αx ), (3.1)

where,
n0 = 1.000233, n2 = 0.45836, α = 2.303m−1 , (3.2)
a ray is launched at x = 0.43m making an angle π/60 with the z-axis. Calculate the value of x at
which it will become horizontal.
Solution: We will use the following condition to find the refractive index variation.

n(x) cos θ = constant

π
Initially, the object has an angle − with horizontal. When the object comes parallel to the horizontal
60
then the angle is equal to zero. Hence
π
n(x) cos 0◦ = n(0.43m) cos
60
The value of n(0.43m) is 1.06455 from Eq.(3.1). Hence

n(x) = 1.063

Substituting the value of n(x), n0 , n2 and α in Eq. (3.1), we solve for x.

x = 0.41m

(b) In an inhomogeneous medium, the refractive index is given by

x
n2 (x) = 1+ for x > 0 (3.3)
L
= 1 for x < 0. (3.4)
Optics Tutorial 1 (Solutions) page 5 of 5

Write down the equation of a ray (in the x − z plane) passing through the point (0, 0, 0) where its
orientation with respect to z-axis is 45◦ .
Solution: For x > 0,  x
d2 x 1 dn2 (x) 1 d 1+ L 1
2
= = =
dz 2β̃ 2 dx 2β̃ 2 dx 2β̃ 2 L
Integrating with respect to z
dx 1
= z+a
dz 2β̃ 2 L
The ray is in x − z plane and it’s orientation with respect to x axis is 45◦ . Therefore

dx
= tan 45◦ ⇒ a = 1
dz z=0

We obtain
dx 1
= z+1
dz 2β̃ 2 L
Integrating with respect to z again
1 z2
x= +z+b
2β̃ 2 L 2
The ray is passing through the point (0, 0, 0), the value of b = 0. Thus, the equation of the ray is

z2
x= +z
4β̃ 2 L