OSLO
OSLO (Optics Software for Layout and Optimization) is a comprehensive optical design program developed by Lambda Research Corporation. It integrates advanced ray tracing, analysis, and optimization methods with a high-speed internal compiled language, enabling users to address a wide array of challenges in optical design. OSLO's open architecture provides designers with significant flexibility to define and constrain systems according to their specific requirements. The software is capable of modeling various optical components, including refractive, reflective, diffractive, gradient index, aspheric, and freeform optics. Its robust ray tracing algorithms and analytical tools offer a solid foundation for optimizing and evaluating lenses, telescopes, and other optical systems. OSLO has been employed in designing numerous optical systems, such as space telescopes, camera lenses, zoom lenses, scanning systems, anamorphic systems, cinema systems, microscopes, ocular systems, etc.
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OpTaliX
OpTaliX is a comprehensive program for computer-aided design of optical systems, thin film multilayer coatings, and illumination systems. It provides powerful features to conceptualize, design, optimize, analyze, tolerate, and document virtually any optical system. OpTaliX includes geometrical and diffraction analysis, optimization, thin film multilayer analysis and refinement, non-sequential ray tracing, physical optics propagation, polarization analysis, ghost imaging, tolerance analysis, extensive manufacturing support, user-defined graphics, illumination, macros, and many more. It is successfully used for the design of photographic and video lenses, industrial optics (beam expanders, laser scanners, reproduction, machine vision), space optics, zoom optics, medical optics, illumination devices, fiber optical telecom systems, infrared optics, X-ray optics, telescopes, eyepieces, and many more.
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Polaris-M
Polaris-M is an optical design and polarization analysis software developed by Airy Optics, Inc., integrating ray tracing-based optical design methods with polarization calculus, 3D simulation, anisotropic materials, diffractive optic simulation, stress birefringence, and diffraction theory. Developed over a decade at the University of Arizona's Polarization Laboratory and licensed to Airy Optics in 2016, it includes over 500 functions for ray tracing, aberration calculation, polarization elements, stress birefringence, diffractive optical elements, polarization ray tracing calculus, and liquid crystal cells and optical elements. Polaris-M requires Mathematica, providing a powerful macro language for optical design and a deep set of algorithms for graphics, computer algebra, interpolation, neural networks, and numerical analysis. The software features comprehensive documentation with active help pages accessible via the F1 key, offering explanations, inputs, outputs, and live examples.
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Ansys Zemax OpticStudio
Ansys Zemax OpticStudio is a comprehensive optical design software utilized globally by companies and universities to create and analyze optical systems, including imaging, illumination, and laser systems. It offers a user-friendly interface that integrates analysis, optimization, and tolerancing tools, facilitating the design of complex optical systems for a wide range of applications. The software supports both sequential and non-sequential ray tracing, enabling precise modeling of light propagation through various optical components. Advanced features include structural and thermal analysis, allowing users to assess the impact of environmental factors on optical performance. OpticStudio also provides extensive materials and optical element libraries, enhancing the accuracy of simulations. For students, Ansys offers a free version of OpticStudio, providing hands-on experience in designing and analyzing optical systems, thereby preparing them for future careers in optics.
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