Webinars

Fast Physical Optics in Systems with Diffraction Gratings and DOEs

21 March 2023
10:00 – 11:00 or 18:00 – 19:00 (CET)*

Diffraction gratings are an integral part of many modern optical applications and systems. It is not uncommon for gratings to be just one part of a more complex optical system, which often can contain lenses and other types of optical components.

This combination can be challenging from a simulation perspective: diffraction gratings, particularly those with smaller feature sizes, necessitate a rigorous method to solve Maxwell’s equations – a particularly well-suited choice being the Fourier Modal Method/Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis (FMM/RCWA), since it is a solver that rests on the assumption of periodicity in the problem. However, these methods are nothing short of overkill when it comes to dealing with lenses and other macroscopic elements: the stringent sampling requirements of the FMM make it impracticable to simulate a typical, macroscopic lens with this algorithm.

This type of complex system is one of the strongest suits of the fast physical optics modeling and design software VirtualLab Fusion: its non-sequential “connecting field solvers” technology makes it possible to use the FMM for the gratings in your system, another solver for propagation in free space, and a different one for the lenses, each solver resting on assumptions that make sense for the component where it is applied. The consistent use of the electromagnetic model for the light means that complex vectorial behavior (e.g., polarization effects from the grating combined with a strong longitudinal component in strongly focused light) are taken into account in the simulation.

We have selected the following examples for this webinar:

• Optical System for Inspection of Micro-Structured Wafer
• Design and Rigorous Analysis of Non-Paraxial Diffractive Beam Splitter

VirtualLab Fusion 2023: The Detector Revolution

Speakers: Prof. Frank Wyrowski and Christian Hellmann

The physical optics software VirtualLab Fusion propagates electromagnetic fields through the optical system to the detectors. The fields provide all information about light. Thus, detectors can evaluate any detector function, e.g., aberrations, amplitude, intensity, irradiance, illuminance, radiant and luminous intensity, degree of coherence, polarization, color temperature, beam parameters, spot size, and the shape and length of an ultrashort pulse. VirtualLab Fusion 2023.1 maximizes the benefit of this fact by introducing the universal detector. It obtains the electromagnetic field and from that detector add-ons calculate any type of detector signal. We steadily provide more detector add-ons independently of the release dates. The webinar introduces you to this amazing new detector concept and gives practical modeling demonstrations.

Theory and Practice: Seamless Transition between Physical and Geometrical Optics Modeling

Speakers: Prof. Frank Wyrowski and Christian Hellmann

We are convinced, that a modern optics software must be based on physical optics. Hence, VirtualLab Fusion is a physical optics software. The use of physical optics is only practical, if the modeling software applies fast algorithms, i.e., algorithms with a complexity linear in the number of sampling points, wherever possible. That is what we do and thus VirtualLab Fusion is a fast physical optics software. Physical optics includes geometrical optics. VirtualLab Fusion embodies this fact by applying a unique concept to provide geometrical optics modeling within the framework of physical optics. It enables a seamless transition between geometrical and physical optics modeling in practice. VirtualLab Fusion 2023.1 takes this amazing technology to the next level.

The webinar gives theoretical insights combined with practical modeling demonstrations.

The New VirtualLab Fusion 2023: An Overview

Speakers: Prof. Frank Wyrowski and Christian Hellmann

In this webinar we give an overview of the new features and put them into context with the development strategy and technical roadmap of VirtualLab Fusion. The new features address topics like modeling configuration, modeling profiles, result presentation, a new help and assistant center, and a revolutionary universal detector concept. You will learn about the new features and how they yield a VirtualLab Fusion with higher speed, easier use, more physics, deeper transparency, and better control.

Design of Metagrating Structures

22 September 2022
Recent years have finally begun to see the coming to life of an ambitious field that, at least where theory was concerned, has been buzzing with activity for decades: metamaterials. Although still extremely challenging, the manufacture of subwavelength structures capable of replicating certain desired emerging properties has, in some cases, become possible due to the constantly improving fabrication technology. In this webinar we will focus on one specific subgroup under the general banner of metamaterials – metagratings: a given arrangement of subwavelength surface structures which is periodically repeated. The advantages of this approach can be, for example, an increased flexibility: in 1D-periodic structures, the response in the invariant direction can be more easily tailored using the distribution of subwavelength structures of the metagrating in that direction.

In the fast physical optics modeling and design software VirtualLab Fusion we put at your disposal several tools specifically designed for the user-friendly configuration and simulation of metagratings. In our coming webinar we will demonstrate these tools in action with some selected application examples. Take part and join the discussion! What you can expect to see:

• Modeling and design of blazed metagratings
• Design of 2D non-paraxial beam-splitting metagrating