Pupil function

The pupil function or aperture function describes how a light wave is affected upon transmission through an optical imaging system such as a camera, microscope, or the human eye. More specifically, it is a complex function of the position in the pupil^[1] or aperture (often an iris) that indicates the relative change in amplitude and phase of the light wave. Sometimes this function is referred to as the generalized pupil function, in which case pupil function only indicates whether light is transmitted or not.^[2] Imperfections in the optics typically have a direct effect on the pupil function, it is therefore an important tool to study optical imaging systems and their performance.^[3]

^ Kidger, Michael J. (2001). Fundamental Optical Design. SPIE Press, Bellingham, WA. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^ Goodman, Joseph (2005). Introduction to Fourier Optics (3rd ed.). Roberts & Co Publishers. ISBN 0-9747077-2-4.
^ Fisher, Robert (2008). Optical System Design (2nd ed.). The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ISBN 9780071472487.

[pupil-1] Kidger, Michael J. (2001). Fundamental Optical Design. SPIE Press, Bellingham, WA. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

[Goodman2005-2] Goodman, Joseph (2005). Introduction to Fourier Optics (3rd ed.). Roberts & Co Publishers. ISBN 0-9747077-2-4.

[Fisher2008-3] Fisher, Robert (2008). Optical System Design (2nd ed.). The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ISBN 9780071472487.

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