Antifragile Optical System Design

I want to give you a quick&dirty (concise&simple) run down on Thermal&Structural FEA (FiniteElementAnalysis) for optical systems using Zemax OpticStudio STAR module. (StructuralThermalAnalysisResult)

The idea is to feed Structural and Thermal analysis results about an opto-mechanical system back into the optical design software to study the impact on the optical performances.

Once you understand the basics, the sky’s the limit.

1> I designed a singlet lens in Zemax OpticStudio.

2> I then export a CAD file from OpticStudio to do the Finite Element Analysis with.

3> In your FEA package: Mesh the volume, Set up your equations, conditions, forces and Start the solver!

I have used Elmer to simulate the thermal and mechanical perturbations supposing the light beam is heating up the lens, generating an index gradient, and deforming the lens.

Here is the result post-processed in Paraview:

4> I used the OpticStudio STAR module to import those FEA results back in the optical system.

>> And now you have your nominal system, and the perturbed one in Zemax OpticStudio ??

There is beauty in taking your Thermal and Structural data in the Optical Design, it is not just about designing a robust or resilient system anymore. One that will not vary too much with perturbations thanks to a tolerance analysis. Incorporating FEA simulations in your Optical Design allows you to design a convex response to stressors.