You can control light by refraction, reflection and diffraction. The former are easily understood: a mirror and a lens. The later is conceptually a little more difficult. Using the wave nature of light a diffractive is like a fresnel lens except the step height is a function of the wavelength / divided by the index of refraction....:
The best reference for a crash course in diffractives is "Diamond-Turned Diffractive optical elements for the Infrared spectrum" by Max J. Riedl, SPIE 2540 Sept 1995
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Subtleties in specifying these surfaces in ray trace codes:
Code V and Zemax can both model a diffractive surface. Unfortunately they do not use the same nomenclature in the phase function and therefore once needs to convert back and forth.
Code V (Reidl) diffractive phase:
φ_CV = 2π/λ*(C2*ρ^2+C4*ρ^4+C6*ρ^6....)
where ρ is the semi aperture and has a value of 0
to 1.0
φ_CV = 2π/λ*Σ(C2i*ρ^2i) summed from i = 1....some
value, or 2i is the pupil power
Zemax diffractive phase:
φ_Z = A1*σ^2+A2*σ^4+A3*σ^6.... Binary2 surface
type
where σ is real semi aperture and has a value of 0
to "Norm Radius"
φ_Z = Σ(Aj*ρ^2j) summed from j = 1 to N or j is
the pupil power
A terms and 'Norm Radius' entered in extra data
editor (F8)
So to convert from one to another:
Zemax to Code V
C2i = Aj*λ/2/π/σ^2j.... I guess in this case the
'i's and 'j's are synchronized
said another way
C2 = A1*λ/2/π/σ^2
C4 = A2*λ/2/π/σ^4......
Example: if your "Norm radius" is 2.6,
A2 is 4 and λ is 0.0005 mm (or 500 nm) then
C4 = 4*0.0005/2/π/2.6^4 = 7e-6
Code V will model the as a "DIF HOE"
modifier. Ensure to also enter
HWL 500;HCT R;HOR 1;HZ1 0.0;HZ2 0.0
Assumes you like command mode:) and not the GUI like me who is 'old skool' and gets lost in the fancy graphics thingy
Code V to Zemax
Aj = C2i*2*π*σ^2j/λ (i=j)
Or some examples for specific terms:
A1 = C2*2*π*σ^2/λ
A2 = C4*2*π*σ^4/λ
Another example:
If C4 is 7e-6, and λ is 0.0005 mm
(or 500 nm) then
A2 = 7e-6*2*π*1^4/0.0005 = 0.087
but...if you decide to have a norm radius in Zemax
of 2.6...
A2 = 7e-6*2*π*2.6^4/0.0005 = 4
I know this is clear as mud
I believe Zemax uses the normalized radius to
properly model phase function changes due to temperature cycling, while Code V
modifies the Ci terms with temperture