Hi! I am trying to model fluid that is sandwiched by two different silicon structures to gauge optical throughput. Since material data for Silicon in visible wavelength regime is not provided in the default Optic Studio, I am modeling it using a refractive index fit. During the same, I am not sure how to put in the transmission data for an accurate model. As I understand, when light is incident on silicon, there is non-zero reflectivity and the rest of the light is absorbed within Silicon (600 micron substrate). I don't know how to accurately model the transmission or the silicon material to show me what reflectivity would I expect. Ideally, I expect about 5% reflectivity, as I am deducing from my experiments, but I need a prediction using Zemax. Any suggestions will be helpful! Thank you! ~Aditi

Is it possible to create an ISO 2D style drawing from a Non-sequential (Tor. Lens) object?

I like using the glass substitution template but I wish there was a way to make it more generic. For example, I do lens designs that require glasses to transmit over certain bands or that have a minimum transmission. It would be great if the glass substitution template had a way to specify transmission at a particular wavelength or wavelengths to limit which glasses will be used during optimization.

Even after many years, I still refer to Help entries for details on Surface, Object, and Operand arguments. It would make life a lot easier if I could just select a Surface Type, Object Type, or Operand Type in the first column of the Lens Data, Non-sequential Component, or Merit Function editor and have a Help window open to the selected type. It would also be nice to have the option of making the help window always-on-top so it can be referred to while working in the editor. I think this would be especially helpful to new users. Kind regards, David  

Dear all, Is there a simple way to rotate multiple (or combined) objects by any desired angle around common centre of rotation? I.e. if one object is inside of another one, and both of them need to be rotated around the same centre of rotation... Grateful for any tip. Best, DS

$FILENAME() returns the file name that includes ".zmx".  I would like to replace "zmx" with "cfg".  Can you suggest a way to accomplish this? (If I knew the string length, I could use a $LEFTSTRING command, but I cannot find a string length command.) Thanks.

Hello, I tried to make a simple simulation of a lam/2 quarz waveplate which is irradiated by collimated, linear polarized light in non seq. mode. Orientation of optical crystal axis is (1 / 1 / 0). Linear polarization of incident light is Jx=1, Jy=0, coherence length=0. I would assume that the light behind the waveplate is Jx=0, Jy=1 perpendicular polarized, if the waveplate thickness d fits to the wavelength (-> pi = k * (n_extraord. - n_ord.) * d). Then I took a rectangular detector with detector polarization setting = 2 and wanted to measure the coherent irradiance of the y-polarized light behind the waveplate. Everything works well if I use the "waveplate mode" in the index menu of the object settings of the quarz volume. Is there a way to get the same result without using the "waveplate" mode? Thanks and best regards Dirk

Anyone know of an example user defined surface DLL, that uses Brent–Dekker or Newton root-finding for the ray-surface intercept?

Can you describe exactly how CWGT and WLWT are utilized when executing a coherent Huygens MTF/PSF addition across multiple Configurations (by selecting "All") for a particular wavelength?  What exactly is scaled during the calculations for (1) PSF and (2) MTF ?  Thanks,

How can I get more than 2 decimals to show on the Z axis? How can I show more incremental values on the X and Y axes? I've tried right clicking and going into Edit Axis Options, but that's not it. I've looked at everything in Project Preferences, nothing there seems to do it. The image in the help documentation shows 4 decimals on the Z axis, so it must be possible.   

Dear community, I have a question about CAD-imports in Zemax. Sometimes I need to import larger CAD-Files (approx. 70 MB; IGS format) and Zemax takes quite a while on my laptop to import this file. Also, after a successful CAD import, it takes much time to modify parameters of this import (e.g. changing from "rays ignore object: never" to "always" takes approx. 20 minutes). Is there a chance to improve this? How can I do that? It is obvious that manipulating the CAD file prior to importing into Zemax is a option (e.g. simplifying the shape by using boundary surfaces instead of the real shape), but for my case it is not applicable. Many thanks in advance! Best Patrik

Is there any way to increase the playback speed for webinars/demos when viewed through MyZemax? Usually 1x speed is really not sufficient to grab the needed information. The ones that are posted on youtube are much nicer that way, but IMO it's a fractured jumble of videos in one forum or another, with broken links thrown in since change to MyZemax. As an educator trying to provide easy access to resources for students, this is far from ideal.

Hi there, I have a feature request for upcoming OpticalStudio versions. When You work with Optical Studio with an off axis system -with ray aiming and pupil shift activated, You can get a "Cannot determine object coordinates!" - error quite easy. But what is really annoying, is the fact that this modal dialog pops up for every single analyze - window, which is trying to recalculate. Also, if you make any changes in the lens data to correct your system, every change causes another modal message. Please, please, please shift these dialog to a "non-modal" message box. Cheers /me PS.: I think I posted a similar request in the old forum back in 2010.  

Dear all, I'm in problems with using zemax macro in NSQ mode. I want to: 1. open the detector viewer with the zemax macro. 2. save/export image and text data(not ray data!) of the detector viewer with the zemax macro. Could someone please help me or give some macro codes for these problems? Thanks. 

When a ray is traced to the next optical surface (the next optical surface being a standard or an even aspheric surface), there are two solutions to the ray-surface intercept equations: OpticStudio selects the correct solution in most cases. However, in certain systems, so-called “strange” rays are actually intended to intersect the next surface at the other “alternate” solution. One of this “alternate” case is when light falls on a water droplet and makes a rainbow. Let’s see how to model this in OpticStudio. The file (that can be found in the attachments) was created by my colleague Michael Cheng. Thank you Michael! In the Lens Data Editor, the file looks like this: Light arrives on Surface 3 (in orange below) which is decentered in Y: Then light propagates through water until Surface 4 (in orange below): At Surface 4, the angle of incidence is roughly 47°. At 47°, we are getting close to the angle of total internal reflection. So part of the light is reflected, and p

I have already searched for an answer in the knowledgebase, and searched the documentation. Problem: I am using coordinate breaks to generate a system with off-axis illumination. I want to step through a series of geometries using a macro to find the optimum geometry. This requires that I control the the Decenter Y of a couple of coordinate break surfaces. The command SETSURFACEPROPERTY does not appear to modify this parameter in the Lens Data using either - parameter 62 (before decenter y) - parameter 72 (after decenter y) There are no other supported commands listed for setting decenter, and no other keywords for controlling the parameters in the lens data. There are some obsolete commands such as PARM, but there is no documentation Example: inter_optic_distance = 5 beam_diameter_in = 5 FORMAT 1.12 FOR magnification, 3, 8, .5     !determine the output beam diameter based on the selected magnification     beam_diameter_o

Hello everyone, I am wondering if anyone know how to How to create ZAR file quickly from zmx file in the macro without refresh the glass catalog, thanks

I simulated an optical system in both sequential and nonsequential modes. I used a Gaussian entrance beam for my system and then, compared the results of "Physical optics" in sequential mode and "coherent irradiance" in non-sequential mode. The problem is that the results don't coincide with each other! Now, I want to know which one is more accurate and reliable? Thanks!

How to simulate a real PBS(polarization splitter prism)? i've simulate it in NSC model and coating the 2nd  prism surface as Pass_P, but  it can't comply with real result if rotate the prism. somebody can provide advise how to simulate it ?

Hello, I am trying to see if ZEMAX calculates Lagrange invariant like in OSLO, or if this is something I would need to write a macro for?   

Please improve the functionality of image insertion in forum posts. I have managed to figure out how to do it much of the time, but the process of inserting an image, sizing it, and previewing the result is still clumsy and error prone. Just now, it seems to have broken for me. (Or I have fallen into some error condition.)  If I try to insert an image, the dialog I get offers me a field to input the URL for the image, but no facility for browsing for an image on my computer. In years of forum posts, I have NEVER wanted to post an image I found at some URL. The images are always on my computer, and usually some image generated within OpticStudio. Posting images is a really good way to communicate. Making that process easier would enhance the forum experience and increase participation. Kind regards, David

I am using a Standard Surface to model a concave mirror in non-sequential mode. The curvature of the mirror is defined with the Radius parameter. To correct for aberrations I want to use two different radii, one along X and one along Y. Which object should I use for this purpose?

Dear All, I want to present the optical design of the compact wide FOV camera. Optics of the camera includes three aspherical plastic lenses and a single spherical glass lens. The design includes thermal, ghost image, and tolerance analyses. The design is shown in the article located on the following webpage: http://www.mark-electro-optics.com/id19.html. Sincerely, Mark Gokhler, Ph. D.

Dear All, I provide the course "Design Imaging Systems in Visual Range using ZEMAX". The course is based on the reading of specific chapters from different references and practical lessons completed under my instructions. You are welcome to visit my website to see the syllabus of the course. You will find there also the agreement that explains how the course is provided. You can learn the course at any convenient time for you. Sincerely, Mark Gokhler, Ph.D. E-mail: info@mark-electro-optics.com. My website: http://www.mark-electro-optics.com.

Dear Zemax users, I just wanted to let you know that I have retired from Zemax. I now have the title Emeritus CEO, and I'll continue to be active here. Swaminathan Subbiah (he goes by Subbiah) is the new CEO and I am sure he will do a great job. I also wanted to say thank you to you all for your friendship, as well as custom, over the years. My personal email is markgnicholson (at) gmail.com, and it would be great if we could keep in touch. Oh, and we have some seriously cool stuff coming out next year, but I shall let others talk about that :-)  - Mark