Physics 425L

Optics Laboratory
Spherical Aberration
In this lab you will study spherical aberration of lenses and how to minimize it.
Introduction
To derive:

1 1
1 1
+ = (n l 1)( )
so si
R1 R2

(1)

one makes the paraxial ray approximation. In this approximation all rays are close to the
optical axis and they make small angles with respect to the lens. Thus the following,
simplifying approximations may be made: sin= and cos=1. However, one must
remember that the resulting equation (1) is an approximation to reality, and the further
the system is from the paraxial approximation, the worse equation (1) will be when
compared to reality.
If the next higher order terms (e.g. sin=-3/3!) are retained and the result would be
what is called, 3rd order theory, which has 5 corrections to equation (1). These 5
corrections are known collectively as Seidel (or third-order) aberrations, and each one has
a name. They are: spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism, curvature of field and
distortion. In this lab we will concern ourselves exclusively with spherical aberration.
Spherical aberration for a single surface
Consider an object, a distance so away from a single refracting surface (figure 1).
When third order theory is used, one finds that rays further from the optical axis focus
sooner than rays closer to the optical axis.

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The result of third order theory is:

n1 n 2 (n 2 n1 ) h 2 n 2 R 1 1 2 1 n 2 n1
+
=
+[
( + ) (
)]
so sih
R
2 fn 2 so R R
n1so

(2)

,where so is the object distance, R the radius of curvature, h the height of the ray above
(or below) the optical axis, sih is the image distance for a ray of height h, and f is the focal
length in the paraxial approximation. Notice that in the limit of small h, when we can
ignore the h2 term, the above equation reduces to the paraxial ray formula, equation (1).
Spherical aberration for a thin lens
One measure of spherical aberration for a lens is longitudinal spherical aberration
(LSA). LSA the distance between where a ray of light of height, h, is focused and where
the paraxial focal plane is (see figure 2), sip sih, where sih is the image distance for a ray
that intersects the lens at a height h and sip is the image distance for paraxial rays. Thus,
LSA=sip - sih,

Third order theory gives the following formula for

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1
,
sih sip

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1
1
h2
1
n+2 2
n3
2

=
[(
)q + 4(n + 1) pq + (3n + 2)(n 1) p +
]
sih sip 8 f 3 n(n 1) n 1
n 1

, where f is the focal length (for paraxial rays), n is the index of refraction of the lens, q
is the shape factor (defined below) and p is the position factor (define below).
R + R1
The shape factor is defined as, q 2
and the position factor is defined as,
R2 R1
s s
p ip o .
sip + so

1
1
We can write the LSA in terms of

to obtain:
sih sip
1
1
LSA = sip sih [ ]
sih sip

(4)

An examination of equations (3) and (4) demonstrates that, since LSA is dependent
upon the shape factor, it will be dependent upon the orientation of the lens.
To minimize spherical aberration, equation (3) can be differentiated with respect to q
and set equal to zero. The result is:
q=

(3)

2(n 2 1) p
.
n+2

(5)

Experiment
You will measure the longitudinal spherical aberration (LSA) of 3 lenses, a planoconvex lens, a bi-convex lens and a meniscus lens. For each lens you will measure LSA
twice, once for each orientation of the lens.
For this experiment you will place an object at (virtual) infinity, by using a point light
source and placing a lens a distance f away from the point light source (see figure).
IMPORTANT-The light source is delicate, and already aligned. Please do not touch
it. If you believe there is a problem with the light source, contact the Professor or
the TA.

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The light leaving lens 5 (large, achromat) will be collimated, the (virtual) image being
at infinity. It is important to insure that the light leaving the lens is as collimated as
possible. To do this, measure the diameter of the light immediately after it leaves the
lens, and compare it to the diameter of the light beam when it reaches the wall. Move the
lens so the two diameters are the same. Since the object-lens distance will be the focal
length of lens 5, it is a good idea to first estimate the focal length of the lens. (Use the
first technique described in lab #1, using the ceiling lights as the object.)
Place the optical mask (see figure) after lens 5. This will block all light except for rays
of light at specific distances from the optical axis. The first three rays of light are 0.126
away from the optical axis, the second three rays are 0.252, the third three rays are
0.378 and the fourth three rays are 0.504 away from the optical axis.

Allow light to pass only through the central region and then place lens 6 (plano-convex)
on the optical rail, insuring that the lens is normal to the beam and well centered. Use the
guide (see figure) to insure that the beam is centered on the lens.

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Now place the red filter (see figure below) in between the light source and lens 5,
which will yield monochromatic light. It is necessary to use reasonably monochromatic
light, otherwise chromatic aberration will make the measurements difficult.

The rays passing through the small central circle of the optical mask are the paraxial
rays. Using the camera and monitor find where the paraxial rays focus, and write down
the position of the micrometer.

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Adjust the mask to allow the first ring of 3 light rays to pass through. Using the
translation stage the camera is mounted on, move the camera so that these rays come into
focus and record the position of the translation state. The difference between the two
positions of the translation stage is the LSA for the rays of height h. Repeat for the other
3 rings of light.
When complete, rotate the lens you are testing (lens 6) by 180o, and repeat what you
have just done.
Repeat this for lens 1 (bi-convex) and lens 7 (meniscus).

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Extra Credit (50 points)

We will now see how the use of additional lenses and their respective orientations can
reduce spherical aberration.
Following the some procedure as above, determine the LSA for each side of the 60mm
plano-convex lens.
Next, using two, f=125mm plano-convex lenses placed next to one another determine
the LSA for each of the four possible orientations (flat face to flat face, curved to curved,
flat to curved and curved to flat).
Finally, using a f=125mm meniscus lens and a f=125mm plano-convex lens placed next
to one another, find the LSA for each of the four possible orientations.
Which combination reduces spherical aberration best?
Questions
1)

From equation (3) we see that

out, plot

1
1

should scale as h2. Does it? To find this

sih sip

1
1

versus h2.
sih sip

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2)

3)
4)

Using the focal length, index of refraction, the radii of curvature and equation (3),
1 1

1
1
calculate sih sip h 2 . Does this agree with the slope of your

versus h2
sih sip
graph?
Does LSA depend upon the orientation of the lens? Why or why not? (Hint:

Consider
equation (5). ) Which lens has the least LSA?
shape factor would yield
If the object-lens and image-lens distances were 2f, what
a minimum LSA? Which of the lenses you tested would minimize LSA for this
situation?

References:
Optics by Eugene Hecht
Introduction to Optics by F. L. Pedrotti and L. S. Pedrotti.
Lab Tips:
1) Do not leave your backpacks, books, etc. on the floor where someone may trip over
them since you will be working in the dark.
2) When you are finished, look around the lab after youve shut the lights. You will
quickly see if youve left something on that should have been shut off.

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