Abstract

Numerical description, design, and analysis of optical systems is commonplace. As computer capabilities increase, more sophisticated analysis and design of opticval designs is possible, especially in the areas of physical optics modeling. Optimization applied to geometric analysis of lens designs is common, but relatively little work has been done in applying optimization techniques to physical optics systems. There are many potenetial applications for optimization techniques in physical optics modeling, and many of these applications would be unduly laborious to solve using other methods. For example, finding the optimum size and placement of a small aperture placed in an aberrated beam, with the constraints that transmitted energy and wavefront quality are simultaneously maximized can readily be approached through an optimization process. More complex problems such as improving outcoupled beam shape in laser cavities through the use of tilted or adaptive mirrors can be approached through contsrained optimization. The basic technique and some practical examples relevant to optical system design will be presented and discussed.

© 1990 Optical Society of America