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Using the Trace Listing

The Trace Listing performs a ray trace of a specified ray through the lens, listing its position and direction at every surface.

To create the Trace Listing window:

  1. Select from the menu Analysis > Listings > Trace

Options panel

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Field
Using the Field popup menu, select the field for which you wish to calculate. Select Specify manually specify the ray in terms of numerical values.
Specifier
If Field popup is set to Specify manually, then this popup is used to select how you will specify the ray. Options are: Reduced field coordinates, Position, Momentum, Tangent, and Angle (degrees).
Pupil
This popup is used to select how you will specify the relationship of the ray and the pupil. Options are: Reduced pupil coordinates, momentum, tangent, and paraxial position at stop.
Wave
Specify which of the defined waves to use or select "Custom" to enter a wavelength into the box below.
Paraxial trace
If checked the paraxial approximation will be used to trace the ray.
Ray position in surface coordinates
If checked the ray position at each surface is given in the coordinate frame of that surface. If not checked the ray position is given in the global coordinate frame.
Ray momentum in surface coordinates
If checked the ray momentum at each surface is given in the coordinate frame of that surface. If not checked the ray momentum is given in the global coordinate frame.
Ray momentum in surface coordinates
If checked the ray momentum at each surface is given in the coordinate frame of that surface. If not checked the ray momentum is given in the global coordinate frame.
Transfer matrix display basis
The transfer matrix can be displayed with a basis of your choice. A basis often used in the literature is (px, py, qx, qy), with ray momentum first. Another basis used in the literature is (qx, qy, px, py); this is the usual ordering used for the ABCD matrix.

See also