	Abe_PSF2 is a 32-bit Windows PC program that shows how the wavefront shape and the transmission function of an optical system will affect its image blur, formally called the point spread function (PSF).  The image degradation from wavefront effects such as third order aberrations (coma, spherical, astigmatism) and defocus, Zernike polynomial coefficients, discontinuous phase errors (waffle, checkerboard, or random), and/or a subaperture phase plate are simulated.  The blur growth from the transmission losses due to obscurations from secondary mirror struts or a central obscuration are modeled, as well as apodization effects or speckle.  The pupil can be round, hexagonal, or rectangular, and the system wavelength and f/number are user selectable.  All effects may be simulated independently or in combination.
	Screen output is in tabular or graphical form; 2-D or 3-D plots of PSF or logarithm PSF (to show low intensity detail) are possible.  An ASCII file containing pupil transmission, pupil phase, or PSF modulus values can be saved and imported into other programs.  The graphical user interface is intuitive and straightforward.  This program should be of interest to high school or college teachers or students who are interested in science, optics or astronomy, as well as optics professionals.
	Download the compressed binary file, called abepsf23.zip, which contains the executable code and a text file with brief and detailed descriptions and a "walkthrough" for those unfamiliar with pupil functions and diffraction point spread functions.
	Special requirements: 32-bit Windows (Windows 95, Windows NT, or Win 3.11 w/ Win32s)

	Abe_PSF2 Version 3 replaces all versions of Abe_PSF and Abe_PSF2, (which have date stamps earlier than October, 1998).  The latest zip file is Abe_PSF23.ZIP.


FreeWare    Uploaded by the author.  Distribute freely.
Nelson Wallace      user702495@aol.com

