Paraxial approximation: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|smallSmall angle approximation in geometric optics}}

[[File:Small angle compare error.svg|thumbnail|The error associated with the paraxial approximation. In this plot the cosine is approximated by {{nowrap|1 - θ²/2}}.]]

In [[geometric optics]], the '''paraxial approximation''' is a [[small-angle approximation]] used in [[Gaussian optics]] and [[Ray tracing (physics)|ray tracing]] of light through an optical system (such as a [[lens (optics)|lens]]).<ref name="Greivenkamp">{{Cite book | isbn = 0-8194-5294-7 | title = Field Guide to Geometrical Optics | last1 = Greivenkamp | first1 = John E. | year = 2004 | publisher = [[SPIE]] | series = SPIE Field Guides | volume = 1 | pages = 19–20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web