Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2000
Diffractive multifocal lenses are usually discussed in terms of geometric zoneprofiles imparted a surface of a refractive lens. Consequently, the zeroth order diffractivepower is usually called the "refractive power" of the diffractive lens. By contrast, wefocuss on the refractive power or refractive power profile of the zones of a diffractivelens and calculate the path length error of any of the zones in a given defocus position onthe lens axis. From this the phase angle of the resulting amplitudes can be calculated.Analytical expressions for the positions of the diffractive powers as a function of (average)zone powers are derived as well as analytical expressions for the intensities in suchpositions. Also, general restrictions on usable zone power profiles are derived.