Methodology & Conventions

OpticsDock is engineered to provide precise, transparent, and validated calculations. To ensure reproducibility across Zemax, Matlab, and physical experiments, we strictly document all conventions and approximations.

Adopted Coordinate & Sign Conventions

• Wavelength: Wavelength parameters are specified as vacuum wavelengths ($\lambda_0$) unless explicitly marked as medium wavelengths.
• Thin Lenses: We use the standard Cartesian sign convention where the object is on the left side (normally $d_o > 0$) and light travels from left to right. Converging lenses have positive focal lengths ($f > 0$).
• Diffraction Gratings: Angles are measured relative to the grating normal. Incident angles are positive. Diffracted angles on the same side of the normal have the same sign.

Numerical Precision Limits

Calculations run client-side using IEEE 754 double-precision floating-point arithmetic. Divisions near zero are guarded using a standard machine tolerance buffer ($\epsilon = 10^{-12}$).