Zemax
Encyclopedia
Zemax is a widely-used optical design program
sold by Zemax Development Corporation of Bellevue, Washington
(formerly Focus Software). It is used for the design and analysis of optical systems. Zemax can perform standard sequential ray tracing
through optical elements, non-sequential ray tracing for analysis of stray light
, and physical optics
beam propagation.
Zemax is used for the design of optical systems such as camera lenses and analysis of illumination
systems. It can model the propagation of rays through optical elements such as lenses
(including aspheres and gradient index lenses), mirror
s, and diffractive optical elements. Zemax can model the effect of optical coating
s on the surfaces of components, and can produce standard analysis diagrams such as spot diagrams and ray-fan plots. It includes an extensive library of stock lenses from a variety of manufacturers. The physical optics propagation feature can be used for problems where diffraction
is important, including the propagation of laser
beams, holography
, and the coupling of light into single-mode optical fiber
s. Zemax has a powerful suite of optimization tools that can be used to optimize a lens design by automatically adjusting parameters to maximize performance and reduce aberrations. It also has an extensive tolerancing capability.
Zemax was originally written by Ken Moore, starting in 1988. The first version was called Max, named after his dog. When he began selling the program commercially, he was forced to rename it due to a trademark conflict. He chose Zemax as an interim name until he could "come up with a 'good name'," and it stuck.
Computer program
A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...
sold by Zemax Development Corporation of Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
(formerly Focus Software). It is used for the design and analysis of optical systems. Zemax can perform standard sequential ray tracing
Ray tracing (physics)
In physics, ray tracing is a method for calculating the path of waves or particles through a system with regions of varying propagation velocity, absorption characteristics, and reflecting surfaces. Under these circumstances, wavefronts may bend, change direction, or reflect off surfaces,...
through optical elements, non-sequential ray tracing for analysis of stray light
Stray light
Stray light is light in an optical system, which was not intended in the design. The light may be from the intended source, but follow paths other than intended, or it may be from a source other than the intended source...
, and physical optics
Physical optics
In physics, physical optics, or wave optics, is the branch of optics which studies interference, diffraction, polarization, and other phenomena for which the ray approximation of geometric optics is not valid...
beam propagation.
Zemax is used for the design of optical systems such as camera lenses and analysis of illumination
Lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources such as lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight...
systems. It can model the propagation of rays through optical elements such as lenses
Lens (optics)
A lens is an optical device with perfect or approximate axial symmetry which transmits and refracts light, converging or diverging the beam. A simple lens consists of a single optical element...
(including aspheres and gradient index lenses), mirror
Mirror
A mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to its contact with the mirror. Some mirrors also filter out some wavelengths, while preserving other wavelengths in the reflection...
s, and diffractive optical elements. Zemax can model the effect of optical coating
Optical coating
An optical coating is one or more thin layers of material deposited on an optical component such as a lens or mirror, which alters the way in which the optic reflects and transmits light. One type of optical coating is an antireflection coating, which reduces unwanted reflections from surfaces, and...
s on the surfaces of components, and can produce standard analysis diagrams such as spot diagrams and ray-fan plots. It includes an extensive library of stock lenses from a variety of manufacturers. The physical optics propagation feature can be used for problems where diffraction
Diffraction
Diffraction refers to various phenomena which occur when a wave encounters an obstacle. Italian scientist Francesco Maria Grimaldi coined the word "diffraction" and was the first to record accurate observations of the phenomenon in 1665...
is important, including the propagation of laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
beams, holography
Holography
Holography is a technique that allows the light scattered from an object to be recorded and later reconstructed so that when an imaging system is placed in the reconstructed beam, an image of the object will be seen even when the object is no longer present...
, and the coupling of light into single-mode optical fiber
Single-mode optical fiber
In fiber-optic communication, a single-mode optical fiber is an optical fiber designed to carry only a single ray of light . Modes are the possible solutions of the Helmholtz equation for waves, which is obtained by combining Maxwell's equations and the boundary conditions...
s. Zemax has a powerful suite of optimization tools that can be used to optimize a lens design by automatically adjusting parameters to maximize performance and reduce aberrations. It also has an extensive tolerancing capability.
Zemax was originally written by Ken Moore, starting in 1988. The first version was called Max, named after his dog. When he began selling the program commercially, he was forced to rename it due to a trademark conflict. He chose Zemax as an interim name until he could "come up with a 'good name'," and it stuck.
See also
- Advanced Systems Analysis Program (ASAP)
- Code VCODE VCode V is a commercial software package developed by Optical Research Associates. It is used for the design and analysis of optical imaging and optical communication systems...
- Optics Software for Layout and OptimizationOptics Software for Layout and OptimizationOptics Software for Layout and Optimization is an optical design program originally developed at the University of Rochester in the 1970s. The first commercial version was produced in 1976 by Sinclair Optics. Since then, OSLO has been rewritten several times as computer technology has advanced...
(OSLO) - HEXAGON (optical software)HEXAGON (optical software)The Hughes Executable Application for General-Purpose Optical Analysis is an in-house optical engineering software program developed by Hughes Aircraft Company to allow them to design and analyze a wide variety of optical lens systems...
- Fred Optical Engineering Software (FRED)
- Optical engineeringOptical engineeringOptical engineering is the field of study that focuses on applications of optics. Optical engineers design components of optical instruments such as lenses, microscopes, telescopes, and other equipment that utilizes the properties of light. Other devices include optical sensors and measurement...