Diffractive optical elements (DOEs) play a fundamental role in the growing field of pattern generation, and their design demands specific techniques that differ substantially from those employed for other types of components.

The specific techniques employed to design and optimize diffractive elements (like the Iterative Fourier Transform Algorithm, or IFTA) are available in VirtualLab, rounded off by the Session Editor, a convenient guide that takes the user through the design process and which precludes the need for in-depth background knowledge of the method. Automatic checks of the design constraints are included in the process.

Design of Diffractive Beam Splitters for Generating a 2D Light Mark

The Iterative Fourier Transform Algorithm (IFTA) in VirtualLab enables the design of customized beam splitters with high efficiency and flexibility.

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Design of a Diffractive Diffuser to Generate a LightTrans Mark
 
Two diffractive diffusers are designed, with a continuous or discrete phase, to generate a LightTrans trademark. Their performance is investigated.

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Lasers and laser systems play an indispensable role in modern life. They can be found in various applications such as laser material processing, metrology, monitoring, lighting, and so on.

Physical-optics based modeling techniques are necessary for the successful design and analysis of a laser system. With its second-generation field tracing technique, VirtualLab constitutes a suitable tool to perform an efficient evaluation of laser systems. We demonstrate, as examples, the collimation of a laser diode with astigmatism and a laser scanning system.

Collimation of Astigmatic Diode Laser Beam by Objective Lens

High-power laser diodes often exhibit asymmetric divergence and astigmatism. The collimation of such a laser diode is investigated with both ray and field tracing.

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Performance Analysis of Laser Scanning System

A scanning system consisting of a dual-axis galvanometer and an aspherical focusing lens is modelled, with the rotation of the mirrors taken into account in the simulation, as is required in the practical case.

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With the release of the non-sequential extension, VirtualLab is now capable of performing System Analysis with Sequential and Non-Sequential Field Tracing.

This new feature greatly simplifies the construction and analysis of certain types of optical systems, and enables many additional applications.
System Analysis with Sequential and Non-Sequential Field Tracing

The Non-Sequential Configuration can be adjusted flexibly for various simulation tasks,
Non-Sequential Configuration

e.g., Investigation of Ghost-Image Effects in Collimation Systems,
Investigation of Ghost-Image Effects in Collimation Systems

or Modeling of Etalon with Planar and Curved Surfaces.
Modeling of Etalon with Planar and Curved Surfaces

Thanks to the non-sequential field tracing technique, multi-path optical systems can be constructed and modeled much more conveniently.

Some examples of such systems are the Herrig Schiefspiegler Telescope,
Herrig Schiefspiegler Telescope

Offner systems,
Analysis of an Offner System with Non-Sequential Field Tracing

and interferometers, like the Mach-Zehnder.
Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

As a result, many practical applications based on multi-path interference effect can be easily analyzed.

For example, the optical topography scanning with a Michelson interferometer,
Optical Topography Scanning Interferometry

or the Examination of Sodium D Lines with Etalon, are demonstrated in VirtualLab.
Examination of Sodium D Lines with Etalon

Furthermore, non-sequential field tracing plays an indispensable role for the modeling and design of waveguide-based near-eye-display (NED) systems. The folding of light paths and the extension of the exit pupil in such systems,

are achieved with Light Propagation through Waveguide with In- & Outcoupling Surface Gratings.
Light Propagation through Waveguide with In- & Outcoupling Surface Gratings

The same as with the etalon, VirtualLab facilitates the Analysis of Folded Imaging System with Planar or Curved Waveguide.
Analysis of Folded Imaging System with Planar or Curved Waveguide

Learn more about the background of VirtualLab Fusion Technologies.

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