Polarization Aberration Diagrams

A computer program, the Polarization Aberration Diagrams Program, or PAD, has been written to explore the forms of polarization variation associated with ray paths through optical systems. PAD models quadratic variations of amplitude, phase, linear and circular retardance, and linear and circular diattenuation, such as are associated with lenses coated with retarding or diattenuating coatings, or lenses formed from retarding or diattenuating materials. Graphical results are presented for constant, linear, and quadratic variations of the eight forms of polarization in weakly polarizing optical systems.