Calculation of contrast for computer simulated resolution chart image

The work is devoted to the analysis of the resolution chart image created with the Image Simulation mode of ZEMAX software. The changes in image quality are simulated using the model of Helios-44M-4 photographic objective lens. The research is conducted for monochromatic light conditions and computer simulated resolution test chart as an object for the lens with different chart positions. An axial beam and an off-axis beam that corresponds to the maximum object space field angle are analyzed. The calculation of contrast of the simulated resolution chart images is made modeling different spatial frequencies of the chart lines. The contrast is calculated in three ways. The first way uses the maximum and minimum values of the image illumination, and the second and third ways are based on the integral values of the illumination of black and white lines, calculated with the method of rectangles and the method of trapeziums, respectively. Having been calculated the values of contrast are compared with the theoretical values of the diffraction modulation transfer function obtained with ZEMAX.