Ray transfer matrix analysis

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Ray transfer matrix analysis (also known as ABCD matrix analysis) is a type of ray tracing technique used in the design of some optical systems, particularly lasers. It involves the construction of a ray transfer matrix which describes the optical system; tracing of a light path through the system can then be performed by multiplying this matrix with a vector representing the light ray. The technique uses the paraxial approximation of ray optics, i.e., all rays are assumed to be at a small angle (¿) and a small distance (x) relative to the optical axis of the system. The approximation is valid as long as sin(¿)¿¿ (where ¿ is measured in radians).