ANSYS ZEMAX
Ansys Zemax OpticStudio is optical simulation software for optical design, lens design and stray light analysis. Sequential and non-sequential ray tracing, physical optics propagation (POP), tolerance analysis and MTF/PSF evaluation are all handled in a single environment.
Overview
Built on sequential and non-sequential ray tracing, it provides a single continuous optical simulation workflow — from imaging optics, illumination design and laser optics through to tolerance analysis and performance evaluation.
LightBridge proposes a license configuration matched to your application and design challenges, provides technical demonstrations and documentation, and then supports you after adoption with Japanese-language technical support, help getting the most from the software, and setting it up around your actual design practice.
Ansys Lumerical can be linked in as well, extending this to integrated optical design that includes nanophotonics.
Analysis modes
Two ray tracing modes in one environment, chosen according to what you are designing.
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A fast, accurate sequential ray tracing engine for designing imaging systems such as camera lenses, microscopes and telescopes. Aberration analysis and MTF evaluation let you assess and optimise image quality quantitatively.
02
Non-sequential ray tracing covers illumination design for LED lighting, light guide plates and light guides, along with stray light and ghost analysis. It quantifies illuminance distribution and the effect of scattered light.
Design features
Aberration analysis and MTF/PSF evaluation
Automatic optimisation of lens designs
Spot diagrams and wavefront aberration
Illuminance distribution and light distribution analysis
Scattering modelling
Interference and coherence analysis
Analysis features
See also the related analysis technologies.
01
Physical Optics Propagation (POP) analyses diffraction effects and Gaussian beam propagation accurately, covering designs where wave optics has to be taken into account, such as laser optics and interferometric measurement systems.
02
A range of algorithms — global optimisation, multi-configuration optimisation and others — searches efficiently for the solution that meets your design requirements, allowing an optical design to be optimised against several operating conditions at once.
03
Sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo analysis quantify the effect of manufacturing variation and predict yield in volume production, so that the optical design can be cost-optimised on the basis of the tolerance analysis.
04
Simulates the image quality of an optical system using a real image, so that MTF (modulation transfer function), PSF (point spread function), distortion and the like can be seen directly and the design judged intuitively.
05
Non-sequential ray tracing quantifies the effect of scattered light and ghosts.
Applications
Interoperability
Zemax OpticStudio can be built into design workflows alongside Ansys Lumerical, Ansys Speos and others. We will propose an arrangement to suit your purpose, from optical design through to structural and thermal coupling.
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A structural–optical coupled analysis workflow
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A thermal–optical coupled analysis workflow
05
Metalens phase design and large-scale layout connect through to optical system evaluation in Zemax OpticStudio.
We will advise on the best license configuration for your application and for the analyses you need — lens design, stray light analysis, tolerance analysis and so on.
For supported releases and operating environments, please see the latest system requirements.
Analysis technologies
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are most often asked before adoption.
Can you advise on a license configuration that suits our application?
Yes. We will propose a license configuration to match the analyses you need — lens design, stray light analysis, tolerance analysis — and the way your design work flows. Where it helps, we run a technical demonstration so you can confirm the configuration against a real design problem.
Which mode is stray light analysis carried out in?
Mainly the non-sequential mode. Besides stray light and ghost analysis, it also serves illumination design for LED lighting, light guide plates and light guides, and the evaluation of illuminance distribution and scattered light.
Can it be linked with Ansys Lumerical?
Yes. Combining Zemax OpticStudio with Ansys Lumerical lets you build a workflow that connects the analysis of nano- and micro-optical elements to the design and evaluation of lenses and optical systems. Exactly how the two are linked depends on what is being analysed and on how your design work flows.
Is technical support available after adoption?
Yes. Alongside technical support, LightBridge helps with setup at the point of adoption, advice on analysis methods, and getting the software running in a way that fits your actual design work.
LightBridge proposes a license configuration matched to your application and design challenges, provides technical demonstrations and documentation, and then supports you after adoption with Japanese-language technical support, help getting the most from the software, and setting it up around your actual design practice.
A technical demonstration turns an approach to your design problem into something concrete.
Technical demo: 30–60 minutes | online | run by a dedicated engineer
If you are comparing optical simulation software or thinking about adopting it, we can advise on a configuration to suit your application.