| PREFACE |
| CHAPTER I Introduction to matrix calculations |
| I.1 Introductory discussion |
| I.2 Matrix multiplication |
| I.3 Null matrices |
| I.4 Unit matrices |
| I.5 Diagonal matrices |
| I.6 Multiple products |
| I.7 Matrix addition and subtraction |
| I.8 Transpose matrices |
| I.9 Determinants |
| I.10 Division of matrices and matrix inversion |
| I.11 Matrix diagonlaization |
| I.12 Eigenvalues and eignevectors of a 2 × 2 unimodular matrix |
| CHAPTER II Matrix methods in paraxial optics |
| II.1 Introductory discussion |
| II.2 Ray-transfer matrices |
| II.3 The translation matrix T |
| II.4 The refraction matrix R |
| II.5 The ray-transfer matrix for a system |
| II.6 Derivation of properties of a system from its matrix |
| II.7 Illustrative problems |
| II.8 Experimental determination of the matrix elements of an optical system |
| II.9 Locating the cardinal points of a system |
| II.10 Further problems |
| II.11 Extension of ray-transfer method to reflecting systems |
| CHAPTER III Optical resonators and laser beam propagation |
| III.1 Review of results obtained for paraxial imaging systems |
| III.2 Description of wave propagation in terms of geometrical optics |
| III.3 "Resolving power, étendue and the space-bandwidth product" |
| III.4 Marix representation of an optical resonator |
| III.5 The distinction between stable and unstable resonators |
| III.6 Propagation of a Gaussian beam and its complex cruvature parameter |
| III.7 Predicting the output of a laser oscillator |
| III.8 Application of the ABCD rule to mode-matching problems |
| III.9 Ray-transfer matrices for distributed lens-like media |
| III.10 Illustrative problems |
| CHAPTER IV Matrices in polarization optics |
| IV.1 Polarized light - its production and analysis |
| IV.2 The Stokes parameters for specifying polarization |
| IV.3 Use of the Mueller calulus for transforming a Stokes column |
| IV.4 Experimental determination of the elements of a Mueller matrix or a Stokes column |
| IV.5 Use of the Jones calculus for transforming a Maxwell column |
| IV.6 Experimental determination of the elements of a Jones matrix or a Maxwell column |
| IV.7 Illustrative problems soled by Mueller calculus and by Jones calculus |
| CHAPTER V Propagation of light through crystals |
| V.1 Introductory discussion |
| V.2 Expression of vector operations in matrx form |
| V.3 Dielectric properties of an anisotropic medium |
| V.4 Propagation of plane waves in a uniaxial crystal |
| V.5 Huygens wavelets in a uniaxial crystal |
| APPENDIXES |
| A Aperature properties of centred lens systems |
| B Matrix representation of centring and squaring errors |
| C Statistical derivation of the Stokes parameters |
| D Derivation of Mueller mat |
| E Derivation of Jones matrices |
| F Connection between Jones and Mueller calculi |
| BIBLIOGRAPHY AND CONCLUSION |
| INDEX |