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Physics · Lens design · Aberrations

Lens aberrations.

Rays are traced exactly (Snell's law at each spherical surface), so they do NOT meet at a point: outer rays cross the axis nearer the lens than paraxial rays — that gap is the longitudinal spherical aberration. With a dispersive glass the red and blue marginal rays focus at different points (axial chromatic aberration). Flip a surface (R<0) or raise the Abbe number to see them shrink.