But ray tracing is not enough to calculate the point spread function (PSF) and modulation transfer function (MTF) in a lens system. To compensate, ray-tracing software developers may include physical optics notions in their model-building programs. In this way, the central technology applied throughout the ray-tracing software addresses the connection between ray and physical optics at the exit pupil of an optical system model. Developments in modern optics and photonics have increased the demand for a more thorough inclusion of physical optics in systems modeling. One such example of a demanding system is AR/MR glasses, which include micro- and nano-optics, partially coherent sources, or a combination of all of these.

Similar to solving for PSF and MTF in ray-tracing software, adding physical optics considerations to any modeling program is often approached by asking how physical optics should be incorporated into ray optics. But there are pitfalls to this approach. One problem is that it assumes one knows in advance where in an optical system physical optics treatment is needed. This introduces a risk of missing unforeseen and potentially important physical effects. But the main problem is one of principle: Light is represented by rays in ray optics and by electromagnetic fields in physical optics. In general, rays do not include all field information. For this reason, switching back and forth between ray optics and physical optics calculations is not suitable or practical for successful modeling.

Frank Wyrowski of LightTrans International introduces an alternative approach in this webinar: Starting from the more general model of physical optics, how can one identify and apply the generalization of ray optics inside the framework of physical optics? Wyrowski presents the modeling software that results from answering this question, showcasing how physical optics modeling can be made more practical and useful for advancing technologies.

Who should attend: Engineers and R&D scientists working with optical systems modeling software who are interested in addressing the challenges of integrating physical optics with ray optics simulations. This webinar offers a nuanced perspective on optical modeling parameters, demonstrated with examples from applications that include fiber coupling, interferometry, AR/MR glasses, and lidar.

About the presenter: Frank Wyrowski is CEO of LightTrans International GmbH. He co-founded the company in 1999, as well as Wyrowski Photonics in 2014. Since 1996, he has also worked as a professor of technical physics and as head of the Applied Computational Optics Group at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany. His work as an entrepreneur, researcher, and educator is dedicated to developing fast physical optics-solving techniques, as well as software to address the increasing demand to supplement ray optics in modern optics and photonics design. His current R&D focuses include lightguides for AR and VR, light-shaping, microscopy, interferometry, fiber coupling, diffractive, and meta lenses; diffractive optical elements (DOEs) and holographic optical elements (HOEs); as well as freeform, micro-lens arrays, and physical optics theory.

About the sponsors: LightTrans International GmbH develops and offers fast physical optics software for optical systems that comprise macro-, micro-, and nano-structured components. By connecting a variety of propagation techniques, LightTrans provides physical optics modeling with high speed, which enables the analysis and design of optical systems beyond ray tracing.