Ray transfer matrix analysis (also known as ABCD matrix analysis) is a type of ray tracing technique used in the design of some optical systems, particularly lasers. It involves the construction of a ray transfer matrix which describes the optical system; tracing of a light path through the system can then be performed by multiplying this matrix with a vector representing the light ray. The same analysis is also used in accelerator physics to track particles trough the magnet installations of a particle accelerator, see Beam optics.
The technique that is described below uses the paraxial approximation of ray optics, which means that all rays are assumed to be at a small angle (θ) and a small distance (x) relative to the optical axis of the system.
Read more about Ray Transfer Matrix Analysis: Definition of The Ray Transfer Matrix, Some Examples, Table of Ray Transfer Matrices, Resonator Stability, Ray Transfer Matrices For Gaussian Beams
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