Released: May 25th, 2021
1 Tools, Features, and Capabilities
1.1 STAR Module (Professional and Premium Editions, Subscription only. Requires a STAR module license)
Load, fit, and analyze FEA data natively in OpticStudio.
The new STAR module makes it possible to load structural and thermal Finite Element Analysis (FEA) data into OpticStudio designs and perform structural, thermal, optical performance (STOP) analysis.
STAR is directly integrated inside of OpticStudio and accepts FEA data from any FEA package. This enables it to easily integrate into existing workflows and provides important design insights. The full STAR functionality can also be accessed using the STAR-API allowing for full automation of common workflows between OpticStudio and any finite element platform.
The STAR Module requires a STAR Module license and a Professional or Premium Subscription license to function. Contact Sales@zemax.com to find out how the STAR module could fit into your workflows.
1.2 Native Non-Sequential Mode volume holograms (Professional and Premium Editions)
Volume holograms are now natively supported in Non-Sequential Mode.
OpticStudio 21.2 adds native volume hologram support to Non-Sequential Mode. This allows for the full non-sequential simulation of volume holograms, similar to the features added for Sequential Mode in OpticStudio 21.1. The objects that support volume holograms are Hologram Lens, Hologram Surface, and Toroidal Hologram. This is achieved by using new parameters for these objects.
Support is also added for Hologram 1, Hologram 2, and Toroidal Hologram sequential surfaces in the Convert to NSC Group tool.
1.3 Off axis pivot (All Editions)
Tilt elements around any point in space.
New Pivot X/Y/Z inputs are added to the Tilt/Decenter Element tool allowing elements to be decentered around any chosen point. The pivot point can be specified in either Local or Global Coordinates. This means it is no longer necessary to manually add complex Coordinate Breaks or pickups to your system to achieve a pivot around any point in space.
1.4 Path Analysis (Premium Editions)
Load and save ray trace data more quickly.
The new Path Analysis File (PAF) can be generated during a ray trace to save ray path data. The PAF file can be saved and loaded into the Path Analysis tool more quickly than the existing ZRD files.
A new optimization operand, NPAF, and ZPL keyword, NSTR2, have also been added alongside ZOS-API updates to the Raytrace and Path Analysis tools to support this new filetype.
1.5 Non-sequential Q-Type Asphere Surface object (Professional and Premium Editions)
New Non-Sequential Mode object.
The Q-Type Asphere Surface object models the Q-type asphere in a similar way to the Q-type Asphere sequential surface. This aspheric surface with orthogonal terms is mathematically described in a way that simplifies both its design and manufacture.
Support of the Q-Type Asphere sequential surface is also added to the Convert to NSC Group tool.
1.6 New functions for Grating DLLs (Premium Editions, Subscription Only)
New coating mode for Blaze Grating (srg_blaze_RCWA.dll) and new DLL (srg_trapezoid2_RCWA.dll).
The Blaze Grating has a new parameter: Coat Mode. If 0 then the DLL works the same as before, if 1 then the coating layer is considered differently.
A new DLL, srg_trapezoid2_RCWA.dll, is added. This DLL defines a trapezoid grating with a different parameter definitions.
A new parameter, NIL, is added for srg_blaze_RCWA, srg_gridwirepolarizer_RCWA, srg_step_RCWA, srg_trapezoid_RCWA, that is useful if the grating is manufactured by nanoimprint lithography and when considering resonant waveguide grating.
Raytracing speed with interpolation for grating DLLs is improved by 15%.
For more details, see the Knowledgebase article Simulating diffraction efficiency of surface-relief grating using the RCWA method.
1.7 Improved Grating Visualization tool (Premium Editions, Subscription Only)
More functions and improved UI.
DLL selection can now be changed from the UI and the version of the loaded DLL is also shown. You can now also set up polar and azimuthal angles and plot efficiency data in the chart. The data from this tool can also be exported.
1.8 Reverse Black Box Lens (All Editions)
Use the Reverse Elements tool with a Black Box Lens.
Zemax Black Box Lenses can now be correctly reversed using the Reverse Elements tool.
1.9 Transmission Plot (Professional and Premium Editions)
New user analysis generates transmission vs. wavelength graphs.
A new user analysis added to generate transmission vs. wavelength plots for a specific field and configuration of your system. Also, a text file of the data can also be saved.
1.10 ConvertSurfaceToGridSag (Premium Editions, Subscription only)
New user extension to convert sequential surfaces to Grid Sag.
A new user extension is added to convert a sequential surface to a Grid Sag surface. The grid data can also be saved.
1.11 Zemax License Manager updates (All Editions)
License Manager updated to support new STAR Module license.
The Zemax License Manager has a new Product dropdown in the View License, Send License, and Manage Licenses tabs. This makes it possible to view only the licenses relating to a specific Zemax product. Also, support is added for the new STAR Module license.
1.12 Updates to Prepare For OpticsBuilder (All Editions)
Choose the number of rays and terminate the preparation process.
New options are added to the Prepare For OpticsBuilder tool to choose the number of analysis rays used during the preparation process. A Terminate button has also been added that stops the preparation process.
2 Feature Experiments
2.1 Enhanced Wide Angle Ray Aiming: updates (Professional and Premium Editions)
New features and improvements to this feature experiment.
This feature experiment should only be enabled when Aperture Type is Float by Stop Size. Also, the system must either be an Infinite Conjugate system with an Angle Field Type, or Finite Conjugate system with a Height Field Type.
Three new options are available in Ray Aiming section of the System Explorer when the feature experiment is enabled:
- Use Advanced Convergence – Improves handling of cases with substantial rotation around the Z-axis.
- Use Fallback Search During Cache Setup – Improves ray aiming for off axis or aspherical systems. It is not recommended to select this option unless there are problems.
- Number of Steps – Sets the number of steps during the cache setup. Generally higher values are more stable but slower. It is recommended to use the default values unless there are problems.
If these options are set at their default values then results will be the same as when using this feature experiment in OpticStudio 21.1.
If Enhanced Ray Aiming is enabled, new X/Y/Z Aim points are available in the Lens Data Editor. For finite conjugate systems, the direction cosines are chosen so the ray begins at the object height and is aimed in the direction of the aim point. For infinite conjugate systems, the ray begins at the aim point and points in the direction defined by the user. The aim points are ignored if equal to 0.
3 Programming
3.1 ZOS-API: STAR Module
All STAR features are available in the API.
All features in the STAR module can be accessed through the API allowing complex workflows to be fully automated
3.2 ZOS-API: Path Analysis
Now includes new Path Analysis features.
ZOS-API includes support for the new Path Analysis features such as saving and loading PAF files.
4 Libraries and Catalogs
4.1 Catalog Updates (All Editions)
Get the latest catalogs from LZOS, OptoSigma, and Bernhard Halle.
Material Catalogs
- The LZOS catalog contains 22 new glasses and all materials in the catalog have their parameters updated.
Test Plate Lists
- The OptoSigma test plate catalog is added to OpticStudio.
Lens Catalogs
- The Bernhard Halle catalog has updated lens titles and bugs fixed in the existing lenses.
5 Performance and Stability Improvements
- Ray Aiming – Minor enhancements to the ray aiming algorithm.
6 Bug Fixes
- RCWA DLLs – A limitation that prevented these DLLs from working after 21st Jan 2021 has been removed
- RCWA DLL srg_user_defined_RCWA.dll – The DLL now functions correctly when the refractive index includes a non-zero imaginary part for a user-defined grating. Previously this caused the DLL to stop working.
- RCWA DLLs – The DLL now functions correctly when a user defined coating file is supplied with a non-zero imaginary part. Previously this caused the DLL to stop working.
- RCWA Visualization Tool – Several issues are fixed when drawing grating shape, editing grating data in the table, and plotting efficiency in the chart.
