Re: Wave Optics vs Ray Optics


"Rex Stomponato" <none@none> wrote in message
news:12jso6qnglbta69@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks for your answers.

What puzzles me is the following.

Maxwell equations should be able to deal with most light propagation issues.

Why can't we study an optical system, even complicated, say a zoom lens,
using a maxwellian approach from the start?

I understand that such a lens is designed first by using ray optics and
then "refined" taking into account wave optics (diffraction, polarization),
at least that's the impression I get by looking at various books / magazines
/ internet resources.

Is this a question of computing power?

Forgive my audacity but I suspect that's largely a question of tradition.

Ray optics has indeed proved its efficacy for a long time, but is it not
time to switch?





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