Characterization of high-numerical-aperture lenses by spatial autocorrelation of the focal field

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Abstract
We demonstrate a new method for the characterization of high-numerical-aperture lenses based on the fluorescent detection of the spatial autocorrelation of the focal field. Numerical calculations without any fitting parameters, based on scalar diffraction theory, are in excellent agreement with the experimental results. The novel method provides lens characterization parameters similar to those obtained with point-spread function measurements in real time, which may be expected to be suitable for high-numerical-aperture lens testing and alignment procedures.