Dear ALL:       We’ve been asked to look into exporting ray data from a Non-sequential Zemax model in the following format style.    The first few (6)  terms look to be part of the ZRD command.             The format is::   x, y, z, L, M, N, Lumens, Wavelength."But how would one also get the Lumens and Wavelength data ?  Wouldn’t that only be available  at a DETECTOR plane ?    Thank you in advance. [Mod note: moved to more appropriate forum for OS-related discussions.] 

Is it possible to re-randomize the rays selected for layouts?I’m modeling an LED and the rays selected are nearly collimated, drawing a very misleading layout of the system.(The Detector Viewers show the angular spread of rays I am expecting)If I increase the # Layout Rays it starts showing wider angles but still doesn’t represent a ‘random’ set of rays.

During optimizations, it would be useful to see how much the Merit Function value is changing as a function of time and the number of Systems evaluated.  When I run Hammer Optimizations, it’s a bit of a guess about when I can stop the optimization to evaluate the result.  Understanding how the merit function is changing over time would help me to understand when most of the merit function gains are being achieved and when a reasonable time to stop it is. 

In 'Zemax\Samples\Non-sequential\Scattering\Bulk Scatter.ZMX', what is the significance of the #Analysis Rays for the source (Object 1)? Is it meaningful or is only #Layout Rays used in the analysis?

Hi,I am learning how to convert a simple lens to NSC mode. Here is a screenshot of the SC mode and here after converting For each field, Zemax added a light source and detector. However, I wonder what is the aim of null objects (layers 6 and 7) and why Null object 7 is the reference object for all 3 detectors. To check what happened, I deleted those two objects and got an error message. What is the function of those two Null Objects in this simply modulation?Regards,Marzanna

When my detector gets too small (size <1mm), no rays can get to it, even when I set importance sampling on the main object (scattering parameters x100 rays, source produces 1e6 rays).Am I missing something or is there a limit where importance sampling stops working ?

I want to generate vortex beams by simulating a vortex phase plate in the optical path like this.The effect I want to achieve is as shown in the first image Different topological loads will produce different imaging effectsby using grid sag , I wrote a dat file to create a special surface sag which is shown in the figure below. But when I looked at the simulation results using a physical propagation POP, it was very different from what I expected. I want to know how to simulate the Vortex phase plate and produce vortex beams correctly  

I need to attach a lens object to the face of a CPC with variable thickness for optimization.  I have the z-position for the other face of the CPC and the thickness is variable.  The z position of the lens should be the z-position of the CPC + thickness.  How can I enter this in the Component Editor properties?  I will also need to set the Clear and Edge of the lens to be the same as the CPC front face which I think is the radial aperture plus length times the tangent of the angle.  Is there an easier way to measure this and how is this input into the component editor? Thanks,Niel

Hi,we are doing non-sequential simulations of surface roughness scatter, and would like to find a way to translate those into loss of contrast.As an example, this is the type of irradiance profile we would get:  If you change the detector viewer to “Geometric MTF” you get this: Which if I understand properly would be the Fourier transform of the “irradiance PSF”. The fact that the graph ends at 4.15 cyc/mm is because we are using pixels 10 times larger than the real detector to get enough SNR, so it’s a ten times smaller Nyquist frequency. But I don’t really know how to get any useful information on the loss of contrast from veiling glare in the image from this figure, if that is even possible.Thanks in advance,Alba 

Dear Zemax Community, I have a question regarding the TIRR Operand in Zemax. The operand defines the sag of the surface in waves which is equally split in astigmatism and spherical aberrations. This idea is clear and often a good approach. The sag of the used irregularity surface is defined as dz=...+Zs roh^4 + Za roh_y^2 + Zc roh^2 roh_y (see Zemax-Manual). Assuming, the TIRR is 1 ring with lambda equal 546.07 nm. This leads to 0.5 rings Asti and 0.5 rings Spherical. In PV this means 136 nm (=0.5 ring/2*546.07) Asti and Spherical and hence Zs=1.36e-4 and Za=1.36e-4 (due to the fact that roh is the normalized radius).  Related to the ISO10110-5, the sag of the surface is defined as 3/SAG(IRR,RSI). The IRR relates to non-spherical aberrations (for example spherical plus asti) and the RSI relates to rotational symmetric aberrations (for example spherical), both after removing the best fit sphere. In my example one might approximate this on the optical drawing as 3/-(1, 0.5) @e. In fact,

Hello, I have a question about how to define the magnification in x an y direction when the image plane is tilted or rotated?As the cases attached.   Thank you. Best

I’ve just tested the new "Convert to Project Directory" feature with a design file using scripted tolerancing.I noticed the browsing dialog box (which appears to let the user select the project folder) does not let you create a new folder by simply inserting a new name. The user is forced to right-clic and create a new folder manually, then select it. the new project directory which is created misses some essential files: .MF , .TOP , .tsc   

Hi,I am following Zemax article about modelling dichroic beam splitter. It instructs to create a coating document in Notepad with an extension .DAT - cannot see it in my Notepad.What to do in this situation? any other extension that could be valid?Regards,Marzanna

Hello,I am struggling creating a polygonal volume with a given material using the Zemax Part Designer Utility. Whatever I tried, the shape seems to remain hollow. Did anybody figure out how to specify that the shape is bulky ! Thank you ,Regards,Pascale 

I’ve noticed that if I have a prescription with all coatings on all surfaces with the “Use Layer Multiplier And Offsets” box checked and then execute a Monte Carlo (MC) analysis--in this case just on all coating layer thicknesses via TCMU--all the aforementioned boxed on all surfaces are unchecked and, in order to perform a transmission analysis, I have to check on the boxes again (in the MC files).  This is rather cumbersome.  Is there a way--via a macro command--to turn on layer multipliers?  Or can future OS versions leave whatever’s “checked” in a “checked” state when the MC files get created?

I am fairly new to zemax, and have some very basic questions that should not take long to answer by those familiar with this program. I am working on a designing a lens system involving a grism for taking in certain wavelengths and collecting data. I would like to find the expected resolution of the lens in its current state, but am not sure what the best way to go about this is. My first thought was to make a flux vs wavelength graph and use the RMS to calculate the resolution? But even if this is the most optimal way to calculate the resolution, I cannot quite get it to work. Any pointers? Thanks, New Zemax User.[Mod note: moved to more appropriate forum for OS-related discussions.] 

Hi Everyone,I am trying to obtain reflectivity/ scatter vs wavelength plot for surfaces with different coating, colors and smoothness/ roughness (something like attached capture.jpg). Using zemax when I apply a particular coating, I can get its reflectivity, absorption, and transmission with respect to wavelength range (analyses→ coating→ reflection vs wavelength) but when I am applying scattering function this object, there is no change in the observed graph from coating analysis (analyses→ coating→ reflection vs wavelength), see fig 11 and 123 for reference.How can I get a graph over range of wavelength that in cooperates the effects of both scattering and coating similar to capture.jpg??Also wants to confirm that if I would assume a detector at source and at the object then by using= I_Source/I_object I can at-least  obtain an average value of reflectivity for a given coating and scattering??Apologies if I missed anything, I am relatively new to the zemax, just trying to get this do

Now I have  a few questions about the optical layout of HUD design for which you wrote an excellent zemax article. How to import a CAD part file of windshield into sequential mode of zemax optic studio?  by the NSC sag tool, it only save the text file but not Dat format file, optical studio does not recognize it. if have sag data, how to convert it to xy extended polynomial surface or other freeform surfaces  which can be used in sequential mode of zemax optical studio/ If have  mechanical layout of optical parts (step, STL files et al) developed by some mechanical design software such catia et al. how to import all parts into the sequential mode of zemax optical studio?   If have the global coordinates of each optical parts relative to the reference such as stop, is there a efficient and easy method to input the optical layout?  or can you recommend some other good methods for the layout?Thank you.

The coating layer thickness tolerance operand (TCMU) could use more description in the manual as to how the variations are handled, e.g. percentages, lens units, etc.?  Could just say -0.03/0.03 for subtracting/adding 3% to the nominal value.

I am working with a CPC (Compound Parabolic Concentrator) and have some questions about what’s happening with it. I understand that a maximum length is allowed, but shorter lengths seem to have a performance reduction as rays outside the acceptance angle are passing through, so maybe the maximum length is the correct length, but shorter CPCs are allowed if the user needs them.More crucially, I am seeing that some rays above the critical angle are passing through while some rays below the critical angle are reflecting back out. What’s going on? Is there a bug?

Hello,I am trying to simulate the coupling efficiency for a single mode angle polished fiber using the Physical Optics Propagation tool. The fiber has a standard 8 deg polish and the wavelength I am working with is 1064 nm. One approach I tried is to add ‘dummy’ surface prior to the final IMAGE surface. I tilt the dummy surface by 8 deg and restore the tilt immediately.  i.e. Add a coordinate break before and after this dummy surface with +8 and -8 deg tilt respectively. The thickness for this dummy surface is kept at zero. Finally, I change the dummy surface and  image surface material to SILICA, to represent the fiber core. Is this a correct approach to simulate the angle polish of a fiber or is there a better alternative to specify the fiber type when calculating the fiber coupling efficiency using POP?

Does anyone know where can I find documentation of the input parameters of srg_trapezoid2_RCWA.dll?It looks like it was released with 21.2, but release points to the article below which doesn’t seem to cover this dllhttps://support.zemax.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500005578722-Simulating-diffraction-efficiency-of-surface-relief-grating-using-the-RCWA-methodThanks,John

Hello, I have a two lens system and I get a high copling efficiency. Now I need to simulate the coupling efficiency  in the situation of  removing the collimating lens. The physical optics give a efficiency of 0.0156%, is it reasonable? I also want to know the difference of the position of the focusing lens in front of the fiber in the situation of removing collimating lens and keeping it. Thanks! 

Hello,          I am trying to get the source file data from a Wurth Electronik LED.  I emailed the company and they provided a few files, but no Zemax specific files (.zmx, .zar, etc...).  They named two of their files zemax.dat and they are quite large (>100 mB), and it looks like the rest are CAD files and source files for other software programs. Here are the LED’s:https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Wurth-Elektronik/150060GS84000?qs=GedFDFLaBXH09WUudWKJ5g%3D%3Dhttps://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Wurth-Elektronik/15412085A3060?qs=8Aam6%252B7C6HFwqxrV4JzvQw%3D%3D Files from Wurth:https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/x9qfr562vjcqi4nfq9ocp/h?dl=0&rlkey=ezttk562x9lv7oafv0wdiu7uw

I just noticed that my system viewers say “Zemax OpticsStudio 20.2” in the title block - I’m running version 23.1.02.  Not sure how long this has been the case (probably since version 20.2?).  Is this a bug or is something corrupted in my installation?