Who should attend: Optical engineers who need an advanced discussion of imaging system design and analysis using ZEMAX.

Numerous lens designs are performed in a workshop setting. This course covers merit function construction, boundary constraints, user interface shortcuts, selecting variables and solves, optimization techniques, global optimization, diagnostic data and interpretation, diffraction analysis, fiber coupling, physical optics modeling, and an extensive discussion of tolerancing.

Prerequisites: We expect attendees to be familiar with the concepts of optical design, and to already have some familiarity with the use of ZEMAX. This course is not aimed at new users. Attendance on Optical System Design Using ZEMAX first is highly recommended, and we assume a level of knowledge of both optical design and ZEMAX consistent with that course.

Aberration theory and diagnostic tools (review)

• Ray Fan and OPD diagrams
• Spot diagrams, field curvature, distortion
• Chromatic aberrations, achromatization
• Diffraction theory and effects, MTF, PSF
  

Optimization

• Optimization tricks and tools
• Building default merit functions
• User defined merit functions
• Boundary constraints and controls
• Setting targets, weights, variables
• MTF, RMS, and PTV optimization
• Hammer optimization
• Global Search
• Glass optimization
• Optimization with macros

Detailed workshop design problems

• Doublets
• Schmidt Cassegrain
• Birefringent materials
• F-Theta Lens
• Gradient index lenses
• Diffractive optics, Binary lenses
• Thermal Analysis
• Alignment analysis
• Incorporating interferometric data
• Automated alignment error estimation

Advanced analysis

• Image analysis
• Gaussian beams
• Fiber coupling calculations
• The Universal Plot
• Polarization and thin films
• Macros and extensions
• User defined surfaces

Laser Beam propagation

• Gaussian beams
• Physical Optics Propagation
• Diffraction and apertures
• Beam quality and characterization

Tolerancing

• Tolerance sources
• Test plate fitting
• Construction an error budget
• Compensators
• Tolerance operands
• Merit function selection
• Sensitivity and inverse analysis
• Tolerance statistics
• Monte Carlo simulations
• Nested tolerances
• Scripted tolerancing

Tolerance workshop examples

• Singlet Lens
• Cooke triplet
• Double pass system
• Mirror systems
• Multi-configuration example
• Scripted tolerancing example

Course Instructors

Neil Barrett is General Manager of Optima Research.

Michael Johnson is Optical Engineer at Optima Research.