Optical Design Software Users Take Advantage of Edmund Optics Products

Online, August 8, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Radiant ZEMAX has introduced a new release of their ZEMAX ray-tracing optical-design framework that helps optical system engineers complete optical-product designs quickly and efficiently by giving them access to over 4,000 lenses from Edmund Optics®' Stock Lens Catalog, and simulation of actual system performance. By using a ray-tracing algorithm to test system performance computationally, the ZEMAX software allows engineers to iteratively optimize both lens selection and physical system layout.

Being able to choose from Edmund Optics' vast array of optical components such as TECHSPEC Laser-Line Coated Plano-Convex (PCX) Lenses and TECHSPEC® Infrared (IR) Achromatic Lenses to the company's unique line of aspheric optical elements, assures designers the best chance of finding the right stock components for any application. These stock components have proven designs manufactured to exacting quality standards in quantities that assure the lowest possible prices. Edmund Optics' Stock Lens Catalog is now available directly in ZEMAX's non-sequential mode helping engineers analyze stray light, scattering and illumination in both imaging and non-imaging systems.

Aspheric lenses are an essential solution for optical systems looking to reduce element count, satisfy weight requirements and increase performance. ZEMAX makes it easy to design with aspheres and EO has supported the effort by adding over one hundred new aspheric lenses. New additions include UV-grade fused silica precision aspheric lenses for biomedical applications, Germanium aspheric and hybrid aspheric lenses for applications in mid and long-wave infrared regions, and TECHSPEC Plastic Hybrid Aspheric Lenses, a 2011 Photonics West Prism Award winner designed for color correcting visual imaging systems.

In the event that a custom component is needed, ZEMAX helps the designer develop the necessary specifications addressable by Edmund Optics' global manufacturing capabilities. The software's new surface curvature and surface curvature cross-section plots provide new insight into the behavior of aspheric surfaces and a new SCUR operand provides control of surface curvature during optimization.

As time is always of the essence when developing a product, the new ZEMAX software release provides expanded multiprocessor support to take advantage of cloud computing and conventional supercomputers. The 64-bit version supports parallel processing with up to 64 CPUs. This allows Monte Carlo simulations with up to 64 rays simultaneously, vastly reducing simulation runtime. Faster simulations make the design optimization process run faster and more efficiently. It also speeds up tolerance-sensitivity analysis, which is needed to assure product manufacturability.

About EO:

Edmund Optics® (EO) is a leading producer of optics, imaging, and photonics technology for R&D, electronics, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and military markets around the globe. EO is the world's largest supplier of off-the-shelf optical components. Customers can purchase items by contacting EO at 1-800-363-1992, via the catalog, or via the website at http://www.edmundoptics.com.

About Radiant ZEMAX:

Radiant ZEMAX LLC develops the ZEMAX software, used by optical engineers and designers around the world for lens design, illumination, laser beam propagation, stray light, freeform optical design and many other applications. ZEMAX leads the industry in technical power, ease of use and proven accuracy. Radiant ZEMAX also provides source, surface and system color measurement systems for applications in lighting, displays and material measurement.

Contact Information:

Kirsten Bjork-Jones
Director Global Marketing Communications
Edmund Optics, Inc.
101 East Gloucester Pike
Barrington, NJ 08007 U.S.A.
Phone: 1-800-363-1992
Fax: 1-856-573-6295
email: [email protected]

Mark Nicholson
Vice President, ZEMAX Group
Radiant ZEMAX LLC
3001 112th Ave NE, Ste. 202
Bellevue, WA 98004 USA
Phone: (425) 822-3406
Fax: (425) 889-4687
Email: [email protected]
Editorial Contact:

James Liolin
Lion Advertising
550 Mamaroneck Avenue
Harrison, NY 10528
Phone: 914-670-0138
Fax: 914-670-0596
email: [email protected]