Calculation of polarization aberrations by the method of polarization-wave matrices

The technique of calculation of polarization aberrations with the help of the method of polarizationwave matrices is proposed. Radiation is represented as a coherent set of the Hermitian-Gaussian modes with a certain amplitude, phase, and polarization state; the longitudinal component of the field is also taken into account. Polarization aberrations are considered as a set of spurious modes. Polarization aberrations caused by a cylindrical converging lens and a diaphragm are studied.