Optical Design and Stray Light Concepts and Principles

What is a stray light analysis? Stray light analysis is the calculation of how much unwanted radiation reaches the image plane/detector plane. The fine distinction being made here is that in some designs a detector is placed at the exit pupil plane where no traditional image is formed. In this chapter they will be used interchangeably. In a stray light analysis one must consider all the elements in the optical design. It must consider each surface as an independent element that will scatter directly to the image plane or that might create significant non-sequential stray light contributions due to ghost images or total internal reflections off any of its surfaces.