Seamless Transition from Ray to Physical Optics

Fast physical-optics system modeling in VirtualLab Fusion is formulated by sequences of operators which mathematically represent the solvers. This way we connect solvers and we refer to it as connecting solvers by field tracing. Solvers may work in the x-domain and the k-domain. Fourier transforms connect the domains. It can be shown, that in situations in which the field which is to be Fourier transformed shows low diffraction effects, the integral Fourier transform (in form of the FFT) can be replaced by a pointwise Fourier transform [Wang2020]. This replacement is done automatically in VirtualLab Fusion in Modeling Level 3. The criterion for switching between pointwise and integral Fourier transform is the relative diffractive power, which is a generalization of the Fresnel number. By enforcing the pointwise Fourier transform in parts of the system, diffraction effects can be neglected independently of the relative diffractive power. This is done without leaving physical optics modeling in general and we still include e.g. interference, speckles, coherence, and polarization effects.  When all Fourier transforms in a system are enforced to be pointwise, diffraction is neglected in the entire system, and we often obtain a complete pointwise modeling in physical optics. When we then just consider the mapping of positions of sampling points and connect them in the x domain, we obtain ray optics within physical optics [Baladron2019]. That can be understood as a derivation of ray tracing in the context of physical optics. We think this is an amazing piece of theory and it is the basis of ray optics in VirtualLab Fusion.

That leads us to the Modeling Levels 1 and 2  in which the pointwise Fourier transform is enforced in different parts of the system.

In modeling level 1 diffraction is completely neglected by enforcing all Fourier transforms to be pointwise. This modeling is typically sufficient in applications in which light is not detected in focal regions, like light shaping in the far field [Yang2020], interferometer setups, and gratings for splitting beams.

If the source is a laser beam, it is typically recommended to select the Diffraction of Source Modes Included option. Consider as an example a Gaussian beam, which is defined in its waist. Then, its propagation over some Rayleigh lengths is dominated by diffraction. This is included by the Diffraction of Source Modes Included option which ensures Fourier transforms of initial source modes are automatically selected via the relative diffractive power. 

In modeling level 2 diffraction is carefully considered in all detector regions by selecting the Fourier transforms at detectors automatically via the relative diffractive power.  This is of particular importance when detectors are in focal zones of the light, e.g., in the image or focal plane of a lens system [Wang2020]. In lens systems it provides high accurate calculation of point spread functions (PSF) and MTFs including diffraction, aberrations, polarization, and vectorial effects. Level 2 is also suited when you investigate the light which is generated by microstructures.  

If the source is a laser beam, also in Modeling Level 2 it is typically recommended to select the Diffraction of Source Modes Included option.
 

For more experienced users we provide Customized Modeling.

The selection of different Fourier transforms can be selected for source modes, the fields at components, and at detectors. That enables the investigation of the effect of different configurations and a performance optimization.

The customization can be done even more specifically, by selecting the options of Fourier transforms inside components and detectors.

Physical optics modeling with Level 1 is close to ray optics when the field information is skipped and the positions of sampling points, which are ray positions in ray optics, and the local normal vector of the wavefronts, which are the ray directions in ray optics, are considered together with the wavefront phase, which includes the aberrations.

VirtualLab Fusion provides this ray optical modeling via Ray Tracing  modeling.
All detectors, which come with a ray optical definition, are evaluated. Others show the dot diagram only.

Physical optics modeling in Level 1 is close to ray optics when the field information is skipped and the positions of sampling points, which are ray positions in ray optics, and the local normal vector of the wavefronts, which are the ray directions in ray optics, are considered together with the wavefront phase, which includes the aberrations. VirtualLab Fusion provides this ray optical modeling via Ray Tracing  modeling. All detectors, which come with a ray optical definition, are evaluated. Others show the dot diagram only.  

Ray optical modeling can be also displayed by the rays in the system via Rays in System.  

Since ray optics is deduced from Level 1 modeling, it is consequent, that also in ray optics we have a feature which is related to the option Diffraction of Source Models Included. It is called Include Diffraction-Induced Contibutionto Ray Direction. The source mode diffraction has a direct consequence on the ray directions. For more information see <u class="BCX2 SCXW267798641 TextRun Underlined" data-contrast="none">Generation of Rays for Ray Tracing</u>.