Different kinds of optical elements, like prisms, lenses, diffraction gratings, and others, can be modeled in “thin element approximation,” like phase masks. A phase mask is an array of values that can be loaded into 3DOptics software using the “png8” file format. Preparation of the masks can be carried out in Matlab or other mathematical software and graphical editors. Each element of the mask array consists of a phase shift in radians that the 3DOptics system adds to the incident wave at the specific point of the mask surface. By adjusting these phase shifts, different optical effects can be simulated. For instance, to model a spherical lens with a designated focal length made from a particular glass material with a specified refractive index, a spherical phase mask can be generated based on the “lens-maker’s equation.” This equation allows for precise calculation of the necessary phase shifts to mimic the behavior of the lens.
In summary, the “thin element approximation” approach and phase masks enable the realistic modeling of various optical elements, and by manipulating the phase shifts, one can accurately simulate the behavior of lenses and other optical components within the 3DOptics software.”
Different kinds of masks can be prepared. To model a spherical lens with a specified focal length macked from the glass with a specified refractive index n_{lens} , a spherical phase mask can be prepared on the base of the “lens-maker” equation.
The mask should be wrapped with the range 2\pi before using it in 3DOptics.
The Huygens integral, derived from Huygens’ principle, is a mathematical representation used to calculate the diffraction pattern resulting from a given diffracting object. It involves integrating the contributions of the secondary wavelets across the entire diffracting aperture to determine the resulting wavefront. The Huygens integral is a powerful tool in wave optics, enabling the prediction and analysis of diffraction patterns in various situations.
GPU-based implementations of Huygens’ integral can greatly accelerate the simulation of diffraction patterns, enabling researchers to study complex scenarios with higher accuracy and faster turnaround times. This can be particularly beneficial in fields such as optics, where the analysis of intricate diffraction phenomena plays a crucial role in designing optical systems and devices.
The integration of GPU processors in implementing Huygens’ integral offers the potential for significant advancements in simulating and analyzing diffraction phenomena. By leveraging the parallel computing capabilities of GPUs, researchers can explore more complex scenarios, improve accuracy, and accelerate the understanding of wave optics phenomena.
We have implemented a GPU-based numerical solution of a modified scalar Huygens integral (Equation 2, Ref. 1) for the near field without any assumptions. The computation time for the present GPU configuration is 3 seconds for 500X500 sampling in the object plane and 500X500 sampling in the image plane. Amplitude and phase masks can be used as elements of the optical scheme, including spherical-phase masks, amplitude and phase grating masks, and phase holograms (thin film approximation). We are now working on implementing a 4-f model based on spherical phase elements for modeling Fourier optics problems.
Ref. 1. Saleh, B.E.A. (2007). Fundamentals of Photonics (2nd ed.). Wiley.
