Genetic algorithms for lens design: a review

Kaspar Höschel,Vasudevan Lakshminarayanan

doi:10.1007/s12596-018-0497-3

Abstract

Genetic algorithms (GAs) have a long history of over four decades. GAs are adaptive heuristic search algorithms that provide solutions for optimization and search problems. The GA derives expression from the biological terminology of natural selection, crossover, and mutation. In fact, GAs simulate the processes of natural evolution. Due to their unique simplicity, GAs are applied to the search space to find optimal solutions for various problems in science and engineering. Using GAs for lens design was investigated mostly in the 1990s, but were not fully exploited. But in the past few years, there have been a number of newer studies exploring the application of GAs or hybrid GAs in optical design. In this paper, we discuss the basic ideas behind GAs and demonstrate their application in optical lens design.

Highlights

In terms of designing optical lenses, there are many constraints and requirements, including restrictions like assembly, potential cost, manufacturing, procurement, and personal decision making [1]
In the past few years, there have been a number of newer studies exploring the application of Genetic algorithms (GAs) or hybrid GAs in optical design
We discuss the basic ideas behind GAs and demonstrate their application in optical lens design

Summary

Introduction

In terms of designing optical lenses, there are many constraints and requirements, including restrictions like assembly, potential cost, manufacturing, procurement, and personal decision making [1]. The design space for optical systems consists of multi-dimensional parameter space. A search space for lens design encompasses a multi-dimensional space including several peaks, nonlinearity, and a strong correlation between parameters [13]. A typical two-element air-spaced lens with nine variables would consist of 4 radii of curvature, 2 glass types, 2 thicknesses, and 1 airspace thickness. Apart from that, a multi-configuration lens includes corrections over the field of view and over a wide spectral band as well as over realistic temperature ranges and over a range of focal lengths. This kind of configuration indicates a complex design volume with many dimensions [5]

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