Modeling Several Optical Components Using Scalar Diffraction Theory
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The paper introduces a formalism similar to geometrical optics that includes the Fresnel diffraction theory.
It is however not substantiated what the benefits (efficiency comparison,...) of this method are with respect to the direct approach. It is claimed that compound systems can be treated with this formalism, yet examples given are relatively simple systems. What happens if a system of reasonable complexity is to be treated ? How does the proposed method then hold up to the direct approach ?
In the conclusions, claims are made about a straightforward calculation of performance parameters like PSF, OTF and MTF, yet this is nowhere demonstrated.
It is recommended that the authors thoroughly address these issues in the article.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Good work done. I recommend to publish as it is.
Author Response
The author thanks the reviewer for his/her recommendation.
Reviewer 3 Report
Attached.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
In this article, the authors proposed a method using the scalar theory of diffraction to design the compound optical systems. Also, they provided several examples to verify their method. The idea is of interesting. However, I would like to suggest the authors to compare the results from their method with those from other methods, such as geometric optics, before I recommend the acceptance of this manuscript.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The author uses geometric optical lens group to represent the process of Fresnel diffraction, two concave lenses to represent two phase factors, and a convex lens to represent Fourier transform. In engineering application, matrix optical operation can be used to replace Fourier transform and inverse Fourier transform in the process of diffraction calculation, so as to simplify the complexity of analysis problems.
However, the author does not reasonably elaborate the efficiency and scope of application of this simplified process. The article needs to be greatly revised and then reviewed.
- For the double lens system in Fig. 4, the author uses the matrix formula and uses three matrices A1, T21 and A2 to derive the formulas of focal length, principal plane, image plane and magnification. For Fig. 5 after considering diffraction, it is changed into a 14 lens system, 14 lens matrices will be generated, i.e. A1, A2, A3,..., A14, and at least 8 transmission matrices, i.e. T21, T32, T43,..., T87. The author should perform matrix operation on the 14 lens transmission to obtain the formulas of focal length, principal plane, image plane and magnification after considering diffraction. It should be compared with the formula without considering diffraction, and show the advanced nature of the formula obtained after considering diffraction.
- Diffraction is represented by two concave lenses and one convex lens. However, how to use several optical elements to represent the aberration based on the theory of this paper? The author does not describe it clearly in the article. If the aberration can not be represented by several optical elements, it needs to be represented by at least one matrix. The elements of the matrix contain the aberration function W. Otherwise, the traditional method based on the transmission multiplication of light field cannot reflect the innovation of this paper.
- The author mentioned that PSF, OTF and MTF of optical system are necessary evaluation parameters. Based on the method of this paper, after Fresnel diffraction is represented by geometric optical lens group, how to calculate and express PSF, OTF and MTF of Airy spot? What are the similarities and differences between the formula obtained by this method and the formula based on Fourier optics theory? It needs the author's detailed analysis.
Author Response
see attached document
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
This manuscript seeks to introduce a formalism similar to geometrical optics that includes the scalar diffraction theory. It specifically uses the Fresnel diffraction theory and explores the mathematical foundations to demonstrate that it can be used to analyze compound systems very much like geometrical optics. In the end a few application examples are given.
Although the endeavor is a sound one, the paper fails to bring to the fore where exactly a novel contribution is made;
the constituting elements of the theory are of course very well known, hence the paper should make an effort to clearly and unmistakably highlight where it added values lies.
The paper quite often proves very hard to follow, paying adequate attention to the mathematics but failing to expound on the actual optics. In this respect, increasing the number of figures, with each figure illustrating only one concept at a time would be a huge benefit for the quality of the paper
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Although the author made some modifications to this article, these modifications did not meet the expectations of the first instance. The revised draft is only a general description without detailed analysis and discussion of the proposed revision. If the issues raised cannot be analyzed and discussed in detail to produce valuable conclusions, then the publication value of this article is not sufficient. Therefore, it is recommended that the author analyze and discuss the problems in detail.
Reviewer 2 Report
This manuscript seeks to introduce a formalism similar to geometrical optics that includes the scalar diffraction theory. It specifically uses the Fresnel diffraction theory and explores the mathematical foundations to demonstrate that it can be used to analyze compound systems very much like geometrical optics. In the end a few application examples are given.
No further major remarks.
Author Response
see attached file
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
