Automatic design options

  • The choice of a starting design is not critical for the needle optimization design procedure. It is quite possible to start the procedure with an arbitrary starting design, for example, a single layer.
  • It is possible to use random optimization or inhomogeneous refinement options to obtain a set of starting designs.

 

needle optimization

Designing of RAMP coating using Needle Optimization AUTO (in order to observe design process put mouse over the picture)

needle optimization

Designing of Hot Mirror using Gradual Evolution (in order to observe design process put mouse over the picture)
  • The most important parameter is the overall thickness of a starting design. Accurate estimation of this thickness is also not important because Gradual Evolution automatically increases design thickness and generates a set of designs having increasing numbers of layers and decreasing merit function values. As a result, a set of designs can be obtained.
  • Optical coating engineer can select the most manufacturable design.  OptiLayer provides simulation tools (BBM and monochromatic monitoring simulator) as well as statistical error analysis which help you to choose a production friendly design.
  • Combining various design modes of the program may facilitate the solution of complicated design programs.

See the details in our publications.

All designs are stored in the corresponding database which is called the History database. This feature adds flexibility to the design procedure because you can easily return to the previous steps of the design procedure and try to apply other design approaches.

multilayer design

References:

  1. A. Tikhonravov and M. Trubetskov, "Modern design tools and a new paradigm in optical coating design," Appl. Opt. 51, 7319-7332 (2012).
  2. A. V. Tikhonravov and M. K. Trubetskov, "Modern status and prospects of the development of methods of designing multilayer optical coatings," J. Opt. Technol. 74, 845-850 (2007)
  3. A. V. Tikhonravov, M. K. Trubetskov, and G. W. DeBell, "Optical coating design approaches based on the needle optimization technique," Appl. Opt. 46, 704-710 (2007)
  4. A. V. Tikhonravov, M. K. Trubetskov, T. V. Amotchkina, M. A. Kokarev, "Key role of the coating total optical thickness in solving design problems", Proc. SPIE. 5250, Advances in Optical Thin Films 312 (2004)
  5. A. J. Thelen, A. V. Tikhonravov, M. K. Trubetskov, "Push-button technology in optical coating design: pro et contra", Proc. SPIE. 3738, Advances in Optical Interference Coatings 210 (1999)
  6. A. V. Tikhonravov, M. K. Trubetskov, and G. W. DeBell, "Application of the needle optimization technique to the design of optical coatings," Appl. Opt. 35, 5493-5508 (1996)
  7. A. V. Tikhonravov, M. K. Trubetskov, "Development of the needle optimization technique and new features of OptiLayer design software", Proc. SPIE. 2253, Optical Interference Coatings 10 (1994)
  8. G. W. DeBell, A. V. Tikhonravov, M. K. Trubetskov, "Use of a new synthesis algorithm to design polarization insensitive optical coatings", Proc. SPIE. 2262, Optical Thin Films IV: New Developments 187 (1994)
  9. A. V. Tikhonravov, M. K. Trubetskov, "Thin-film coatings design using second-order optimization methods", Proc. SPIE. 1782, Thin Films for Optical Systems 156 (1993)