Design Of Optical System Research Articles

Design of a dual-band common aperture confocal plane optical system

In order to achieve high-quality imaging while simplifying the structure and reducing the size of the optical system, a miniature dual-disc folding reflection optical system was designed. A design approach incorporating reflector fitting is employed; the adjacent reflector is fitted to one mirror. The optimized optical system contains two mirrors, and the system length-to-focal-length ratio is 0.325, which significantly reduces the axial distance of the system. Furthermore, the engineering of the optical system was successfully achieved. The experimental results demonstrate that the captured images display consistent clarity, are free from distortion, and meet the specified design requirements.

Head-mounted displays based on human eye condition variation patterns

In response to the practical demands for a wide field of view (FOV), long exit pupil distance, and high image quality in head-mounted displays, an initial structure was built based on the principles of catadioptric lenses in a folded optical path (pancake optics) and the field curvature correction formula. Subsequently, using even-order aspheric surfaces, a VR optical system was developed with a FOV of 2w=110∘, an exit pupil distance of 15 mm, and an exit pupil diameter of 8 mm. Compared to traditional designs, a human eye model was introduced as the image plane to construct a VR–human eye optical system analysis model, allowing for direct analysis of the retinal image quality under different states of the human eye. After that, based on medical statistical data, the impact of different light intensity conditions on the retinal image quality of the VR optical system was explored. Experimental results showed that changes in light intensity affect the pupil diameter, which, in turn, influences the final image quality of the system. To solve the issues, two solutions were proposed: adjusting the screen distance and changing the lens spacing. Both methods significantly improved the imaging quality on the human retina, with an increase of over 30% in the average MTF value. A comparison of these methods was conducted, providing valuable references for future VR optical system designs.

Design and Research of High-Performance Optical Bus Control System

Design and Research of High-Performance Optical Bus Control System

Investigating the transverse jitter in ultrashort electron beam generation with optical compression

Optical compression scheme is a highly potential candidate for the generation of ultrashort electron beam. This scheme utilizes a tightly focused radially polarized laser to compress the electron beam from the photocathode radio frequency (RF) gun. However, the unavoidable relative transverse jitter between the electron beam and the modulation laser leads to a performance degradation of the compressed pulse duration. To address this issue, we propose a method for correcting this transverse jitter through a specific design of optical system and an optimized decoupled solenoid. This method concentrates on the transverse jitter caused by the pointing instability of the laser. Its objective is to align both the transverse jitter direction and magnitude of the modulation laser with that of the electron beam. The simulation results demonstrate that the deleterious impact of transverse jitter can be effectively mitigated by this method, thereby ensuring the sustained generation of high-quality ultrashort electron beams.

Advancing pure ray tracing for the simulation of volume holographic optical elements: innovations in diffractive waveguide-based augmented reality systems

As augmented reality (AR) glasses technology evolves, volume holographic diffractive waveguide designs are increasingly adopted to enhance portability and performance. Traditionally, these systems require separate geometric and wave optics approaches to handle ray propagation and holographic element diffraction, adding significant complexity to the design process. This study presents an innovative pure ray tracing simulation method that integrates geometric and wave optics seamlessly. By incorporating Kogelnik's coupled wave theory, our model accurately predicts the diffraction behavior of volume holographic optical elements (VHOEs) and converts this information into ray data for tracing, enabling exact AR imaging simulations. Applied to the design of volume holographic waveguide AR glasses, human vision simulations, and experiments validated this method's reliability, demonstrating its versatility and effectiveness. This model improves design efficiency and promotes innovative advancements in cross-theoretical optical system design, positioning it as a crucial tool for future AR glasses development.

Method of calculation of paraxial design parameters of a hybrid catadioptric zoom system with focus tunable elements.

This paper introduces and analyzes a theory for a paraxial design of a hybrid catadioptric optical system with variable focal length, which uses focus tunable optical components. Compared to the conventional zoom lens system, the proposed hybrid optical system can be designed with a smaller length and weight than a lens system of similar characteristics. The hybrid system does not need the movement of individual elements for zooming. All necessary relations for the calculation of the paraxial parameters and the third-order spherical aberration of the hybrid optical system are derived. The presented theory helps to find out the optical power distribution of individual optical elements of the whole hybrid zoom system considering the requirement on the spherical aberration of the system. In addition, the procedure for the calculation of basic design parameters of such an optical system is shown by examples.

Design of a calibratable optical antenna system based on ring array light source

Abstract This study presents a multi-wavelength, multi-channel, and high-capacity optical antenna system. This approach is intended to allow parallel transmission with many channels and wavelengths by employing a ring array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, with reception accomplished via a ring detector array. The system employs spatially multiplexed techniques to send the target with numerous independent signals at the same time, effectively increasing bandwidth and reducing signal interference. The method used in this design provides benefits such as effective decreasing losses caused by blocking and removing aberrations. To overcome the spatial alignment difficulty caused by the array light source’s tiny beam size during long-distance transmission, this study introduces a high-precision acquisition, pointing, and tracking system as a reverse communication channel. The system’s wide beam can be used to align the installation of optical antenna equipment and facilitate information transmission.

Optical System Design of a Self-Calibrating Real Entrance Pupil Imaging Spectrometer

Presently, on-orbit calibration methods have several problems, such as low calibration accuracy and broken traceability links, so an urgent need exists to unify traceable and high-precision on-orbit radiometric calibration loads as benchmarks for cross-transfer radiometric calibration. Considering the deficiencies of current on-orbit calibration, this paper proposes adjusting the size of the variable diaphragm at the entrance pupil and the integration time to attain large dynamic attenuation, converting the radiometric calibration into absolute geometric calibration of the attenuation device, and realizing a self-calibrating real entrance pupil imaging spectrometer (SCREPIS) that can be directly used to view the Earth and the Sun and quickly obtain apparent reflectance data. An initial structural design method based on the distance between individual mirrors is proposed according to the instrument design requirements. The design of a real entry pupil image-side telecentricity off-axis three-reflector front optical system with a 7° field of view along the slit direction, a 3.7 systematic F-number, and a 93 mm focal length is finally realized, and the system image plane energy is verified to change proportionally to the variable diaphragm area. Finally, the front system and rear Offner optical system are jointly simulated and optically designed. The system provides instrumental support for cross-calibration and theoretical support and a technical basis for planning space-based radiation references.

Iterative critical ray tracing for local tolerance analysis of freeform imaging systems

Tolerance analysis of the freeform surfaces serves as a critical bridge between design and manufacturing, offering essential guidance for the desensitization design of optical systems and playing a crucial role in the development of advanced imaging systems. Recently, Deng et al. proposed a direct method [Deng et al. Optica 9, 1039 (2022)] for solving tolerances of freeform surfaces, which reveals the local characteristics of the tolerances of freeform surfaces. However, the method requires dense sampling of the fields of view (FOVs) and the entrance pupil (EP) to cover as many optical surface points as possible, thereby achieving more accurate tolerance envelope solutions. Here, we propose an iterative algorithm called "critical ray tracing" to calculate the critical rays at points on the optical surface and utilize this information for surface tolerance analysis. This method involves fitting the coordinate space of the optical system into a 4D polynomial and employing numerical iteration to determine the rays closest to the preset wave aberration boundary at each surface point. Converting the FOVs and EP sampling into optical surface sampling significantly reduces the number of samples required, achieving computational efficiency without compromising accuracy in determining tolerable surface errors. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method through tolerance analysis of two different freeform imaging systems. Furthermore, a tolerance analysis example of a complete off-axis three-mirror optical system demonstrates the universality of the process.

Event-based high-resolution neutron image formation analysis using intensified CMOS cameras

We present a versatile optical setup for high-resolution neutron imaging with an adaptable field of view and magnification that can resolve individual neutron absorption events with an image intensifier and a CMOS camera. Its imaging performance is characterized by evaluating the resolution limits of the individual optical components and resulting design aspects are discussed. Neutron radiography measurements of a Siemens star pattern were performed in event mode acquisition comparing two common high-resolution neutron scintillators, crystalline Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GGG) and powdered Gadolinium Oxysulfide (GOS). An analysis of the light signature caused by neutron absorption events is performed and some resulting issues for both GGG and GOS regarding optical system design are addressed. Both scintillators reach similar resolution (4–5 μ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\upmu }$$\\end{document}m) in event mode acquisition despite different light emission characteristics. The findings suggest that, in the case of GOS, the resolution is limited by the size of the light clusters which in turn originate from the photon scattering at the boundaries of the powder particles comprising it, while with GGG the lower light conversion efficiency makes it challenging to collect enough photons to trigger sufficient signal amplification in the image intensifier. Overall, the proposed event-based evaluation of scintillators allows for quantifying and optimizing various design parameters, which is much more complex than adopting conventional methods based on integrated images.

Opto-mechanical-thermal integration design of the primary optical system for a tri-band aviation camera

This paper presents a tri-band aviation camera that integrates short-wave infrared (SWIR, 0.9–1.7 μm), mid-wave infrared (MWIR, 3.7–4.8 μm) and visible (VIS, 0.486–0.656 μm) bands into a primary optical system and three subsystems, to enhance optical remote sensing capabilities. The focus is on opto-mechanical-thermal integration to effectively manage thermal stress and minimise deformation. Finite Element Analysis is employed to extract Zernike coefficients for deformation analysis, facilitating a comprehensive assessment of the camera’s performance across a temperature range of −40 °C to 60 °C. An innovative flexible support system is integrated to maintain the optimal surface figure of the primary mirror, further reducing thermal effects. Extensive empirical testing, including resolution and wavefront error detection, has validated the system’s robustness under various thermal conditions.

Desensitization design of freeform off-axis TMA optical systems with configuration selection

The off-axis three-mirror anastigmatic (TMA) optical system has the advantages of eliminating all primary aberrations, having no aperture obscuration, no chromatic aberration, and good environmental adaptability, making it essential in high-performance optical instruments. Freeform surfaces, with their rich degrees of freedom (DOFs) in mathematical representation, positively affect the image quality and sensitivity of optical systems. When applied correctly to off-axis TMA optical systems, they can achieve fast F-numbers, large fields of view (FOVs), and long focal lengths. There are dozens of configurations for off-axis TMA optical systems, and freeform surfaces can be combined in numerous ways within these systems. This paper first analyzes the sensitivity of off-axis TMA optical systems with different configurations, selects the configuration with the lowest sensitivity, and combines it with a low sensitivity freeform surface combination to achieve high-performance freeform off-axis TMA optical systems with low sensitivity.

Методика перетворення кодових послідовностей у відповідності до системи координат модуляційного диска

An analysis of current approaches used in the design of optical recording systems for modulation disks has been conducted. By adapting mathematical models, software algo-rithms were developed to transform code sequences represented in polar, homogeneous, and parametric coordinate systems, and the unique characteristics of each approach in de-veloping a universal method for ensuring accurate and efficient modulation pattern trans-formation were established. It was noted that the polar coordinate system is the most suit-able for practical applications in code sequence transformations. Its ability to effectively represent circular and symmetrical structures, as well as the convenient representation of objects with radial symmetry, provides advantages in the creation of modulation disks. As a result of the study, effective software solutions for automating data processing in the formation of modulation patterns were identified. The implementation of the developed software algorithms for the presented approach involves adapting the code sequence to the current metric within the design of an optical system based on modulation disks. The pre-sented methodology ensures the ability to transform code sequences regardless of the cho-sen coordinate system, which significantly enhances its flexibility and versatility for prac-tical applications.

Design of the tertiary optical system for the Large Latin American Millimeter Array radio telescope

Design of the tertiary optical system for the Large Latin American Millimeter Array radio telescope

The Mueller pupils Reduction-Zernike polynomial decomposition and polarization design criteria for the astronomical telescope system

This study introduces a novel method for decomposing polarization aberrations. It uses two sets of reduction matrices to decompose the diattenuation and retardance Mueller matrix into five independent reduction coefficients. And then, it uses Zernike polynomials to decompose these coefficients at the exit pupil, thereby providing a method for quantitatively analyzing the polarization aberrations. This method also gives the constraint values of the Zernike term of polarization aberrations during astronomical telescope design. Finally, the effectiveness and correctness of the process are verified by simulation of the actual optical system, pointing out that the D1, D2, D3, and R5 terms need to be calibrated and optimized to ensure polarization accuracy. This method offers a valuable tool and theoretical guidance for the polarization design of high-precision optical systems.

Efficient Light Coupling and Propagation in Fiber Optic Systems

This study explores the propagation of light in optical fibers, focusing on the fundamental principles and practical implications for fiber optic technologies. By analyzing the wave equation, the research demonstrates that light propagates as cylindrical waves within the fiber, contrasting with spherical waves in free space. The study highlights the significance of Gaussian beams, particularly from helium-neon lasers, finding a beam waist radius of approximately 12.6 μm and its position about 1.25 μm from the focus. These parameters are critical for optimizing laser beam coupling into the fiber. The research also measures the light transit time through a 100-meter fiber, revealing a light speed of approximately 2×108 m/sec, which is influenced by the fiber's refractive index. Additionally, the relationship between diode laser output power and injection current was investigated, demonstrating a linear correlation crucial for practical applications. The findings emphasize the importance of accurate measurements and configuration in improving fiber optic communication and laser performance. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the design and optimization of optical fiber systems, contributing to advancements in communication and laser technologies.

Design of off-axis reflective dual-channel zoom freeform optical systems

In this work, two off-axis reflective dual-channel zoom optical systems are conceived and designed. These two systems achieve good imaging quality and compact system volume by introducing freeform surfaces. Firstly, the system models of the off-axis reflective dual-channel zoom optical systems are introduced, and the first-order analysis is carried out. Then, a design method of an off-axis reflective dual-channel zoom freeform optical system is introduced, and two examples are designed using this method. In one example, the two channels have a separate primary mirror and share a secondary mirror and a third mirror. The system achieves a zoom ratio of 2 times. The two different channels of the other system have separate third mirror and share the primary mirror and the secondary mirror. The system achieves a zoom ratio of 4 times. The two systems have good imaging performance close to the diffraction limit in the visible light band. Finally, the proposed off-axis reflective dual-channel zoom freeform optical system is analyzed and discussed.

Design of short-focus near-eye optical system for virtual reality using polarization-insensitive metasurface

Near-eye optical systems, as an important component of virtual reality displays, have attracted great research interest recently. However, current systems have complex structures and face the design challenge of combining compact, short-focus design with wide field of view and high angular resolution. In this paper, we propose a short-focus near-eye optical system with wide field of view and high angular resolution, referred to as a meta-eyepiece, by patterning a single-layer polarization-insensitive metasurface on a substrate. The metasurface, featuring a quasi-periodic nanopillar arrangement, enables precise phase modulation and enhances design flexibility. The desired metaform phase can be obtained by modeling the light propagation of the meta-eyepiece to determine key design parameters, utilizing metaform phase polynomials, customizing the objective merit function and employing advanced optimization algorithms. Our system achieves a short focal length of approximately 22 mm with an 80° field of view, offering compactness superior to conventional virtual reality optics and a minimum resolvable angle less than 1.25 arcminutes, ensuring high angular resolution. It also exhibits excellent imaging performance with full-field modulation transfer function values exceeding 0.5 at 62.5 lp/mm. Although the initial system utilizes ray optics, the scaled version is validated for its feasibility and scalability through full-wave simulations. Our meta-eyepiece structure and design method show the potential of metasurfaces for applications in virtual reality, offering valuable support for technological development in this field.

Effects of aperture shapes on imaging spatial quality from end-to-end perspective

With the continuous advancement of optical imaging technology and the increasing requirement for remote sensing applications, high-resolution spatial imaging technology has been extensively researched. Subject to the diffraction limitation, the optical aperture is continuously increasing to obtain more target details, which leads to larger satellite platforms and higher manufacturing costs. In order to balance the cost of satellite platforms and the imaging quality of space cameras, this paper focuses on the optical aperture, which affects both of the above by conducting an end-to-end analysis of the space imaging process to examine its effects on overall imaging spatial quality. This paper formulates the optical aperture optimization problem by establishing the evaluation functions for deployment cost and imaging quality. Two types of optical systems commonly used in space imaging, the coaxial reflective optical system with annular aperture and the topologically compact optical system with square aperture are studied based on the proposed optimization model. Their imaging characteristics and design principles are summarized. The optimization model proposed can be applied to the optical aperture design of any manufacturable optical system to guide the design of the entire space camera and even the satellite platforms.

Innovations and challenges in modern optical design

AbstractOptical designers are constantly pushing the boundaries of technology, developing new materials, techniques, and software tools to improve the design and optimization of optical systems – crucial for continued growth and innovation in areas such as virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, and quantum technologies.