Using diffractograms to evaluate optical systems with coherent illumination.

A new approach to measuring aberrations of an optical system with coherent illumination is introduced. The optical system is evaluated by use of a so-called weak phase object and by digital image recording and processing. Based on the contrast transfer function theory for coherent systems, the main aberrations of the optical system can be determined. This is a convenient approach to evaluating and measuring complex optical systems with numerous optical elements after assembly and can serve as a simple performance test of an optical instrument in the field.