Alternative Description for Gaussian Image Plane

An alternative description for the Gaussian image plane (GIP) of an optical system for a given objectis presented, which applies to both aberration-free and non-aberration-free systems. We extend the definitionof transverse magnification (TM) to the image plane (IP) displaced from the GIP and find that the TMdepends linearly on the locations of both an aperture stop placed in front of the system and the IP. Hence,we redefine the GIP as the location at which the slope of the TM variance changes sign. The definitionis deterministic and self-consistent and, therefore, no other parameters or measurements are needed. Thederivation of this definition using a set of paraxial ray tracings and supporting experimental data for athick bi-convex lens system is presented KCI Citation Count: 0