On the diffraction of a high-NA aplanatic and stigmatic singlet.

We present a study of the diffraction pattern according to Richards–Wolf for an aplanatic and stigmatic singlet based on an exact analytical equation. We are able to put emphasis on the maximum diameter and illumination pattern, which are the two parameters that influence the diffraction pattern and how to compute it. Designs of low- and high-NA aplanatic and stigmatic lenses are implemented to display these effects.