Conference Agenda

Computer scientists discovered that a school of Italian landscape painters in the 18th century around Giovanni Paolo Panini (1691 - 1765) did not paint their paintings in rectilinear perspective, but in an alternative, non-rotationally symmetrical perspective projection. For three-dimensional landscapes with large fields of view, Panini’s projection provides much better images. Recently, it has been widely used in 3D computer graphics software and game engines. However, this alternative perspective projection is still unknown in the optics community.

We present first optical designs of imaging systems with Panini projection. The use of toric or free-form surfaces is very advantageous for this type of system. We discuss the pros and cons of hardware and digital post-processing solutions as well as a design example that benefits from a digital co-optimization strategy.

Analytical expressions for the ray-transfer matrix have been proven useful for the understanding of ray propagation in gradient-index (GRIN) lenses. The determination of an exact analytical expression for the ray-transfer matrix of arbitrary GRIN lenses remains unsolved. We propose an approximation based on the perturbation method with highly accurate results for models of the crystalline lens, which outperforms existing methods.

The fast computation of the Jacobian is an essential part in the optimization of optical systems using the damped least-squares algorithm. While finite differences provide an intuitive way to approximate derivatives, algorithmic differentiation is a technique to calculate them exactly. However, applying algorithmic differentiation to a raytracing routine for optical systems with many parameters is comparatively expensive, where the main costs are caused by the determination of a ray-surface intersection. To overcome this disadvantage, we present a mathematical analysis of the ray-surface intersection and its efficient differentiation in both forward and reverse mode algorithmic differentiation. Futhermore, the structure of the optimization variables and operands is exploited to derive a method that allows to compute the Jacobian in the same order of computational complexity as the primal raytrace. The method is successfully tested for a freeform design task and a classical spherical lens system.

OptiMat, by Sagittal Optics, is a tool developed to generate initial designs for color-corrected lens-based systems. OptiMat focuses on material selection, which is the most critical aspect for correcting chromatic aberration. However, this tool extends beyond material selection; it is also used to establish initial systems in the design process, which optical designers can further refine. By selecting from a catalog of materials and specifying the number of lenses in the system, optical designers receive the ideal combination of materials to correct chromatic aberration, together with a set of parameters to further improve the received system, such as lens ordering and radii. Additionally, engineers can filter combinations based on different metrics, such as chromatic and monochromatic aberrations.

In optical system design, material selection is not usually decided at the start of the project. Instead, it is determined gradually through a merit function that explores numerous combinations, which is an inefficient method. OptiMat identifies the best material combination upfront, drastically reducing design times from months to hours.

In this contribution, the results achieved through OptiMat will be presented alongside case study outcomes and detailed comparisons with other tools. This will highlight the significant advantages offered by OptiMat in optimizing lens-based systems.

Accurate and uniform fabrication of microstructures on highly curved substrates requires exposure with the waist of a focused laser beam at every point. In order to realize this, the exposure beam must be held perpendicular and focused onto the local substrate. Here we present an optical tool for our developed 5-axis nano-positioning and nano-measurement machine based on the chromatic differential confocal microscope.