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One of the fundamental strengths of the optical modeling and design software VirtualLab Fusion lies in its extremely modular approach: a gateway to provide maximum versatility to the user. This versatility is additionally turbocharged by the fact that many of the aforementioned modules which constitute VirtualLab allow for customization via data import or programming. In this newsletter we take a closer look at how to program custom surfaces. We present below a thorough tutorial on the topic which includes a simple example rolled out in-depth, and one additional programming sample for further illustration.

Polarization effects often play an important role in modern optical research and engineering due to the vectorial nature of the electromagnetic field. Linear polarizers (e.g. wire grid polarizer) are probably the most commonly used optical elements for the manipulation of the polarization state. Although in most cases polarizers are designed for paraxial situations, they are also used in non-paraxial setups, e.g. in the focal region behind a high-NA lens or for the measurement of the Stokes parameters behind a highly tilted polarizer. In VirtualLab Fusion we provide a model for polarizers in non-paraxial cases. Moreover the simulation results obtained with VirtualLab show good agreement with the reference.

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Gratings are widely used for various applications, such as spectrometers, near-eye display systems, etc. In the Grating Toolbox of VirtualLab, grating structures can be easily configured through a user-friendly software interface, and they can be rigorously analyzed using the Fourier modal method (FMM). This enables not only the calculation of diffraction efficiencies but also the investigation of polarization effects. For example, the polarization conversion for light diffraction at a sub-wavelength grating is investigated, and the results obtained from VirtualLab show good agreement with the reference.

Imaging systems can be found in various optical applications and they may appear in different configurations.

Such systems can be easily set up in VirtualLab Fusion and their performance can be analyzed with e.g. the wavefront error detector. Especially, apertures in system are known to have an influence on imaging quality. VirtualLab can handle aperture effects properly and take them into consideration for the PSF/MTF calculation. As an example, such effects are demonstrated with a human eye model.

In optics, several effects like air turbulence or thermal effects in lasers may cause modulations in the refractive index which lead to so-called graded-index (GRIN) media.

This type of media can be useful in certain applications, e.g. flat lens, reducing aberrations and fibers. The modeling of light propagation through GRIN media is therefore important for practical optical simulations and design. In VirtualLab Fusion an efficient modeling technology has been implemented which is suitable in the cases of e.g. GRIN lens and GRIN fiber modeling.

VirtualLab Fusion offers a user-friendly interface with Zemax, with which the user can import complete optical systems from Zemax, including the full 3D position information and the definition of the glass materials.

This enables an efficient and flexible workflow for optical designers who have access to both software packages - one optical system, constructed once, and analyzed with both Zemax and VirtualLab. On another note, optical systems and components in VirtualLab can be exported into various computer-aided design (CAD) formats, such as IGES and STL, which makes it convenient for eventual further fabrication processes.

Modern display devices (LCD) are widely used in different optical systems, e.g. image projection systems.

The panel-type source in VirtualLab can be used to model the light generated by such display devices conveniently. In order to configure the source a specific number of pixels and pixel pitch can be set. With the help of the panel-type source, the performance of the projection lenses can be analyzed, by e.g. observing the spot grid distortion in the image plane, or by checking the angular/direction behavior of the system.