The Digital Twin Platform for Light
VirtualLab Fusion software provides a suite of simulation models tailored for a wide variety of components and structures, addressing all scales from the tiny to the large.
Simulation models include techniques such as the:
1. Geometrical-optics techniques for lenses and freeform surfaces,
2. Rigorous Coupled Wave Approach (RCWA) for analyzing gratings,
3. Fourier Modal Method (FMM) enhanced with Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) technology for all types of nanostructures,
4. Solver for coatings and stratified media,
5. Specialized solvers for flat optics
6. Split-step methods for graded-index and microstructures,
7. Models for simulating crystals, waveguides, and fibers, and
8. Simulation models utilizing BSDF data.
Vast Collection of Optical Components and Structures
The VirtualLab Fusion platform allows you to independently run each simulation model and investigate optical components and structures such as:
1. Lenses and freeform surfaces
2. Nano- and micro-scale structures
3. Gratings and lens arrays
4. Diffractive and holographic optical elements
5. Metalenses
6. Optical diffusers
7. GRIN lenses
8. Coatings
9. Scattering surfaces
10. Polarizer and crystals
Connecting Diverse Simulation Models for System Modeling
The full power of VirtualLab Fusion comes alive when modeling a 3D optical system, composed of various components and structures, irrespective of differences in scale.
Every component and structure has its specific simulation model, and VirtualLab Fusion autonomously connects these models in a non-sequential manner for system simulation.This groundbreaking technology takes system-level optical modeling and design to a whole new level.
With its one-of-a-kind technology, VirtualLab Fusion delivers unparalleled flexibility for simulating optical systems across diverse applications.
Unmatched Flexibility in Addressing Application Scenarios
With its one-of-a-kind technology, VirtualLab Fusion delivers unparalleled flexibility
for simulating optical systems across diverse applications. For instance, consider these
examples:
1. Assessing aberrations and MTF in lens systems,
2. Investigating different interferometer configurations,
3. Analyzing microscope image formation for nanostructured objects,
4. Studying lens systems that include gratings, diffractive optical elements (DOE), and metalenses,
5. Exploring Fourier optics setups,
6. Evaluating laser beam systems,
7. Creating and analyzing vortex beams,
8. Simulating lightguides for AR/MR glasses,
9. Experimenting with various sources such as lasers, laser diodes, VCSELs, LEDs,
and x-rays, or
10. Monitoring the spatio-temporal evolution of ultrashort pulses in optical systems.
Optical Design with VirtualLab Fusion
Leveraging its proficiency in optical simulations, VirtualLab Fusion establishes itself as a formidable platform for sophisticated optical design, offering a growing collection of design tools.
VirtualLab Fusion Optimization
VirtualLab Fusion includes an integrated parametric optimization tool, applicable to any system. The supplementary VirtualLab Fusion Optimization package can augment the optimization capabilities. The establishment of merit functions of any detector signal serves as the foundation for constructing an optimization problem. Optimization algorithms encompass techniques like the simplex method and simulated annealing. In its field tracing framework, VirtualLab Fusion facilitates ray tracing, aberration evaluation, and the calculation of MTF and PSF. Therefore, the optimization of lens systems through parametric methods is enabled. However, it currently does not offer the conventional lens design workflow. Stay tuned for future updates on this matter in 2025!
Metalenses and Diffractive Lenses
VirtualLab Fusion provides a set of tools aimed at designing diffractive and metalens surfaces, enabling the realization of a targeted phase modification through these lenses. After the design phase, the lenses may be integrated into optical systems, utilizing a tailored simulation model, and linked to additional lenses through field tracing. VirtualLab Fusion additionally offers a tool that facilitates the export of lens structures into fabrication-ready data formats. In 2025, expect new techniques for designing and simulating both diffractive and metalenses.
Height Profile Gratings and Metagratings
Within VirtualLab Fusion, one has the capability to define and optimize gratings using either a surface height profile or a metasurface. These gratings can be fine-tuned to function efficiently in a specific diffraction order or to generate multiple orders characterized by predetermined efficiencies. Additionally, it is possible to investigate and enhance polarization-dependent functionality.
Diffractive Optical Elements: Beam Splitter
From the inception of diffractive optics, there has been significant interest in designing beam-splitting Diffractive Optical Elements (DOEs) to generate specified target patterns. These diffractive optical elements act as gratings within the paraxial and near-paraxial domains, possessing distinctly characterized efficiencies across numerous orders. VirtualLab Fusion provides a sophisticated Iterative Fourier Transform Algorithm (IFTA) specifically designed for creating these DOEs.
Diffractive Optical Elements: Optical Diffuser
The transition from a beam-splitting diffractive optical element (DOE) to an optical diffuser DOE is determined by the ratio of the DOE’s period size to the size of the incoming beam. When this ratio reaches unity or exceeds it, the diffraction orders commence to overlap, resulting in the emergence of a speckle pattern, as opposed to maintaining distinct orders. VirtualLab Fusion automatically modifies the DOE dimensions to accommodate a given input beam, enabling the design of a diffractive diffuser via the IFTA. Randomized lens arrays can be employed as an alternative to diffractive optical diffusers to achieve the functionality of an optical diffuser. In 2025, VirtualLab Fusion is set to unveil its lens-array type diffuser design features. Keep an eye out!
Light Shaping Components
VirtualLab Fusion provides techniques to design components for manipulating Gaussian beams, such as transforming them into top-hat profiles. It also offers an array-type approach with gratings or prisms per cell in the array for shaping LED light. Look out for the launch of additional light shaping design tools in VirtualLab Fusion set to debut in 2025.
Lightguide for AR/MR Glasses
VirtualLab Fusion sets the benchmark for crafting and simulating lightguides, also known as waveguides, for use in augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) eyewear. Utilizing the comprehensive capabilities of simulation and design through VirtualLab Fusion, it is possible to simulate lightguides featuring integrated grating areas. This allows for the detailed analysis of energy flow, diffraction, interference, and coherence phenomena, and their influence on the device’s modulation transfer function (MTF).
The VirtualLab Fusion Product Family
We differentiate between the optical simulation and design software VirtualLab Fusion as the platform, and additional packages, which can be combined to suit your needs.
Capabilities of VirtualLab Fusion’s Core Functionality
While many software solutions can handle classical optical elements such as lenses,
mirrors, and prisms, VirtualLab Fusion not only matches these capabilities but surpasses them, offering advanced features that make it truly unique.
What sets VirtualLab Fusion apart is its ability to go beyond traditional ray optics, providing unparalleled precision in areas where conventional tools fall short.
Advanced Modeling of Diffraction Effects
Precisely simulates diffraction, making it ideal for designing optical systems involving lasers, fiber coupling, apertures, and other diffraction-sensitive components.
Accurate Analysis of Coherence and Interference
VirtualLab Fusion provides powerful tools for developing systems such as interferometers, optical coherence tomography, and imaging applications that rely on wave-optical effects.
High-Precision Polarization Simulation
Enables the design of optical systems where polarization control is critical, such as optical sensors, metrology setups, and other advanced applications.
Seamless Integration of Multiple Optical Effects
VirtualLab Fusion allows for the simultaneous consideration of diffraction, coherence, interference, and polarization, ensuring a comprehensive approach to optical system design.
VirtualLab Fusion’s Packages
Advantages
The platform, which includes both classical optical design tools and advanced diffraction, coherence, and polarization modeling capabilities, can be further expanded with seven specialized packages.
Customization
Tailor the software to your specific needs by adding only relevant packages.
Cost Efficiency
Purchase only the features you need, avoiding unnecessary expenses.
Scalability
Expand capabilities seamlessly as your project scope or focus evolves.
Specialized Tools
Access advanced features optimized for particular fields of optic design.
The Grating Package enhances VirtualLab Fusion with powerful tools for designing and analyzing diffraction gratings. It introduces the Fourier Modal Method (FMM) solver, also known as Rigorous Coupled-Wave Analysis (RCWA) – a full-vector solver for Maxwell’s equations that accurately models 1D and 2D periodic structures.
The Diffractive Optics Package extends VirtualLab Fusion with powerful tools for designing and simulating Diffractive Optical Elements (DOEs). It adds specialized session editors, interactive assistants, along with the Iterative Fourier Transform Algorithm (IFTA), a key method for DOE design.
The Distributed Computing Package allows you to use network resources to speed up your simulations.
The Flat Lens Package provides advanced tools for simulating functional metasurfaces and diffractive optical elements within VirtualLab Fusion.
With this package added to your VirtualLab Fusion software, you gain the capability to design cell-based light-shaping elements that redirect light to create specific illumination patterns.
The intuitive and user-friendly interface will guide you through the optimization process and the powerful post-processing tools will enable you to understand the development of merit function values during the optimization process.
The AR/VR/XR Package in VirtualLab Fusion provides a comprehensive set of tools for designing and optimizing AR light guides.
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