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Literature Review
2:616-71
ANALYTICAL OVERVIEW OF RAY TRACING FEATURES IN
HOLLOW NON-SPHERICAL MIRRORS
1)
Poluektov S.О
1)
National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute",
Kyiv, Ukraine
a) b)
Figure 1.1 – Comparison of a Spherical (a) and an Aspherical Lens (b) [6]
Bent rays by a spherical lens do not precisely pass through the focal point F,
leading to spherical aberrations (Figure 1.1 (a)). Bent rays pass through the focal
point F (Figure 1.1 (b)) [6].
Traditionally, aspherical lenses are defined by the surface profile (sag),
specified by Equation 1.1:
2
Cs 4 6 8
Z ( s) = + A 4 s + A6 s + A8 s +… , (1.1)
1+ √ 1−(1+k )C s
2 2
where Z is the surface sag parallel to the optical axis, s is the radial distance from
the optical axis, C is the curvature, the reciprocal of the radius, k is the conic
constant, A4, A6, A8 … are the non-spherical coefficients of the 4th, 6th, 8th …
order.
When the non-spherical coefficients are set to zero, the resulting aspherical
surface is considered conical [6-8]. The table below (Table 1.1) illustrates how the
conical surface is formed based on the magnitude and sign of the conic constant k.
Table 1.1 – Formation of the Conical Surface
Conic сonstant k Conic surface 3D Surface Visualization
k=0 Sphere
k>0 Ellipse
k=-1 Parabola
k<-1 Hyperbola
There are several ray tracing methods available to optical system developers.
Let's consider the general or curvilinear ray tracing method [6]. The complete ray
tracing through an optical system consists of four main steps: emission,
transmission, refraction, and termination.
In the first step, the initial position and directional cosines of the ray relative
to the initial surface are determined. Next, the ray is transmitted to the next surface,
calculating the intersection point of the ray with the next surface [19]. In the third
step, refraction of the ray on the surface is calculated, and the direction cosines of
the emerging rays from the surface are found. The second and third steps are
repeated until the ray is traced through all the surfaces of the optical system.
Finally, ray tracing is terminated by calculating the path and intersection point of
the ray on the last surface.
An aspherical lens typically consists of an aspherical front surface and a
spherical back surface. Figure 1.4 illustrates the process of ray tracing through a
typical aspherical lens. For simplification, a two-dimensional coordinate system y
and z is depicted."
Figure 1.5 – Schematic of focusing collimated rays with a parabolic mirror at the
focal point [24]
Ellipsoidal mirrors are mirrors that have an ellipsoid shape. One notable
feature is the presence of two foci, making them a versatile optical component
(Figure 1.6) [13-14, 25]. They can be used to create point light sources or to
disperse light within a specific angle.
Toroidal mirrors are non-spherical mirrors where each curvature along two
orthogonal axes (horizontal and vertical) is different [30]. These mirrors have a
toroid shape and are used to focus light to a point or multiple points (Figure 1.8).
They are typically used in optical systems where precise light focusing is required
[31].
а) б)
Figure 1.8 – Comparison of light focusing in the image plane with a toroidal (a)
and spherical (b) mirror [32]
Ray tracing is the process of determining the path along which light rays
entering an optical system will travel and exit after reflecting off a nonspherical
mirror [19]. Nonspherical mirrors differ from regular spherical mirrors in that their
curvature is not constant across the entire surface, allowing them to reduce
aberrations and achieve more accurate imaging.
Several ray tracing methods exist for nonspherical mirrors, one of which is
the optical trajectory construction method [33]. This method involves solving
differential equations that describe the trajectories of rays reflected by the surface
of a nonspherical mirror. These equations are based on the laws of equivalent
optics, which state that the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence.
Solving these differential equations yields the trajectories of the rays.
Another method is the use of transformation matrices [37], where each
optical surface of a nonspherical mirror is represented by a matrix that reflects the
spatial transformation of rays passing through that surface. An optical system can
be presented as a sequence of operations, such as refraction on a surface, passage
through a medium, or refraction on a lens. Each of these operations can be
described by a transformation matrix.
When a ray passes through an optical system, each transformation matrix
must be multiplied with other transformation matrices in the sequence of
operations to obtain the overall transformation matrix for the system. This matrix
can be applied to the initial state of the ray to determine its position after passing
through the optical system.
The transformation matrix method has several advantages. Firstly, it allows
for the rapid and accurate calculation of ray trajectories in complex optical
systems. Secondly, it conveniently models the interaction of multiple optical
elements in a system, making it suitable for designing new optical systems.
However, the transformation matrix method has certain limitations. For
instance, it does not model effects arising from inhomogeneities in the medium,
such as dispersion, diffraction, or scattering. Additionally, this method is not
accurate for very narrow beams with large dispersions or excessively large angles
of deviation from the beam axis.
In general, the transformation matrix method serves as a convenient tool for
the analysis and design of complex optical systems, enabling the modeling of
optical elements with various parameters like refractive index, radius of curvature,
or thickness [37].
Another method is the Finite Element Method (FEM), a numerical method
used for modeling and analyzing various physical systems, including optical
systems [38-39].
The FEM is based on dividing a complex system into smaller, simpler
components called finite elements. Each element is described by its physical
properties, such as refractive index, permeability, or light scattering, and interacts
with neighboring elements.
For modeling light rays in an optical system, the FEM can be used to solve
differential equations describing the trajectories of light rays in the system [38].
For example, the Helmholtz equation can be employed to describe light diffraction,
and the transport equation can be used to model light radiation in a medium.
For each finite element in the optical system, a matrix describing its
properties is constructed. Then, the matrices are combined to create a global matrix
describing the entire optical system. By applying numerical methods like the
Galerkin method or the Kramer's method, equations for the trajectories of light
rays can be solved, providing detailed information about their properties in the
system.
The FEM method has several advantages over other optical system modeling
methods [39]. Firstly, it allows for accurate modeling of complex systems with
different optical properties, such as aspherical mirrors and lenses. Secondly, it
enables the calculation of detailed parameters of the optical system, such as focus
position, aberrations, and various distortions. Moreover, the FEM method is
flexible and can be used to analyze optical systems with different geometric shapes
and materials.
However, the FEM method also has its limitations. For instance, it requires
significant computational power to solve complex systems, which can be
problematic for large and intricate optical systems. Additionally, modeling
accuracy may be limited at large distances, where light may interact with other
elements not considered in the model.
In conclusion, the FEM method is a valuable tool for modeling and
analyzing optical systems. It provides detailed information about the behavior of
light rays in the system and can be used for optimization and improvement of
optical systems.
The use of any of these methods allows for determining the trajectories of
rays in an aspherical mirror, aiding in the development of more precise and
efficient optical systems [33-40].