White Paper: Application-Specific Optical Design

Optical design software capabilities have advanced considerably from the late 1950s and early 1960s when computer tools first became available. Initially, the main purpose of the software was to geometrically trace rays and perform limited analyses. However, the introduction of automated optimization, generally using a damped least squares algorithm, is what has made software an indispensable tool for the optical engineer.

Today, optics are used in a variety of applications, and unique features and capabilities are often required to model, optimize, and analyze systems designed for a specific application. In this paper, we will look at several different application areas and discuss some of the software modeling, design, and analysis features important for those applications. The applications include:

• Commercial Imaging Systems
• Visual Systems (i.e., optical systems that use the human eye as the detector)
• Off-axis tilted and decentered Systems
• Telecommunications Systems
• Astronomical applications
• Non-visible Systems (e.g., UV, IR, etc.)
• Microlithographic (Optical Stepper) Systems