# Paraxial approximation

In geometric optics, the paraxial approximation is a small-angle approximation used in Gaussian optics and ray tracing of light through an optical system (such as a lens).[1]

A paraxial ray is a ray which makes a small angle (θ) to the optical axis of the system, and lies close to the axis throughout the system.[1] Generally, this allows three important approximations (for θ in radians) for calculation of the ray's path:[1]

\begin{align} \sin \theta &\approx \theta\\ \tan \theta &\approx \theta \end{align}

and

$\cos \theta \approx 1$

The paraxial approximation is used in Gaussian optics and first-order raytracing.[1] Ray transfer matrix analysis is one method that uses the approximation.

In some cases, the second-order approximation is also called "paraxial". The approximations above for sine and tangent do not change for the "second-order" paraxial approximation (the second term in their Taylor series expansion is zero), while for cosine the second order approximation is

$\cos \theta \approx 1 - { \theta^2 \over 2 } \ .$

The paraxial approximation is accurate within 0.5% for angles under about 10° but its inaccuracy grows significantly for larger angles.

For larger angles it is often necessary to distinguish between meridional rays, which lie in a plane containing the optical axis, and sagittal rays, which do not.

## References

1. ^ a b c d Greivenkamp, John E. (2004). Field Guide to Geometrical Optics. SPIE Field Guides vol. FG01. SPIE. pp. 19–20. ISBN 0-8194-5294-7.