Optical Engineering Reading Guides
==================================

These guides connect five reference books to practical optical-engineering
questions. They focus on physical models, assumptions, units, and checks
that can be used with any suitable calculation method.

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 1

   optical_system_design
   modern_optical_engineering
   introduction_to_lens_design
   stray_light_analysis_and_control
   modulation_transfer_function

Choose a route
--------------

* **System requirements and budgets:** Fischer, Tadic-Galeb, and Yoder.
* **Paraxial optics and aberrations:** Smith, with :doc:`../../cardinal_points`.
* **Lens design workflow:** Sasián, with :doc:`../../lens_design_intro`.
* **Ghosts and radiometry:** Fest, with :doc:`../../coaxial_led_dark_edges`.
* **Image quality:** Boreman, with :doc:`../../eol_imaging_qualification/index`.

State ray-vector order, sign conventions, wavelength units, pupil
normalization, and Fourier-transform convention before comparing results.
Distinguish relative ray weights from calibrated power or detector signal.

The companion :doc:`../fundamentals_of_photonics/photonics_formula_guide`
summarizes the principal ray, wave, and detector models. These reading
guides summarize connections; the books supply the complete derivations.