Yes, you can model scattering in Sequential Mode. However, there are some differences from the scattering features available in Non-Sequential Mode. Namely, the scattering in Sequential is assumed to have only a very small angular deviation. This will create a “blurring” effect on the spot diagram or other analysis tools. Therefore, you cannot model phenomena such as backscatter, wide-angle scatter, or other scattering modalities that would otherwise violate forward ray tracing in Sequential Mode.
To use scattering in Sequential, simply select the target surface and open its properties. Then open the Scattering properties. You will find a drop down offering a list of available scattering models. For more information on these models, please see: What scattering models are available in OpticStudio? – Knowledgebase (zemax.com).
This capability can be important for lens designers to understand how lens surface roughness affects overall performance and image quality. More information can be found here in the Help File: The Setup Tab > Editors Group (Setup Tab) > Lens Data Editor > Surface Properties > Scattering (surface properties).
If you need to model rays scattering in many directions and from many surfaces, you may need to consider moving to Non-Sequential Mode. This type of analysis will be necessary to understand stray-light and how housing, mounts, and baffles influence light collection.
