Automated freeform imaging system design with generalized ray tracing and simultaneous multi-surface analytic...

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Optical Engineering
• Computational Imaging

Background:

• Freeform optics offer enhanced compactness and performance, particularly in reflective designs for broad-wavelength imaging.
• Existing design methods can be computationally intensive and may not fully exploit the potential of freeform surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a generalized differentiable ray tracing approach for freeform optical design.
• To introduce a "double-pass surface" strategy for component reduction and increased compactness.
• To demonstrate a robust design scheme for reflective freeform imaging systems.

Main Methods:

• Developed a generalized differentiable ray tracing algorithm applicable to most optical surfaces.
• Established an automated freeform design framework for simultaneous multi-surface coefficient calculation.
• Implemented a "double-pass surface" strategy with non-mutually centered overlap.

Main Results:

• Successfully designed a wide field-of-view, fast f-number, four-mirror freeform telescope.
• Created a compact, cost-effective two-freeform, three-mirror, four-reflection system using a double-pass spherical mirror.
• Generated abundant feasible starting points rapidly using the automated design framework.

Conclusions:

• The presented differentiable ray tracing approach provides a robust scheme for reflective freeform imaging systems.
• The "double-pass surface" strategy facilitates the creation of highly compact and high-performing freeform imaging systems.
• This work unlocks new design possibilities for advanced, miniaturized optical systems.