Design of a three-dimensional parallel-to-point imaging system based on inverse methods

TL;DR

This paper introduces an inverse design method for a 3D parallel-to-point imaging system using freeform optical surfaces, demonstrating improved performance over classical designs through ray tracing analysis.

Contribution

A novel inverse design approach for freeform optical systems that combines energy conservation and imaging conditions, enabling superior 3D imaging performance.

Findings

Inverse freeform design outperforms classical Schwarzschild telescope in image quality.

The method effectively computes freeform surfaces for 3D imaging systems.

Ray tracing confirms improved spot sizes with the new design.

Abstract

We present an inverse method for designing a three-dimensional imaging system comprising of freeform optical surfaces. We impose an imaging condition on the optical map and combine it with the law of conservation of energy to conclude that the ratio of energy distributions at the source and target of an imaging system must be constant. A mathematical model for the design of a parallel-to-point system consisting of two freeform reflectors is presented. A Schwarzschild telescope, a classical design known for maximum correction of third-order aberrations, is utilized to specify the design parameters in the mathematical model, enabling us to compute an inverse freeform imaging system. The performance of both designs is compared by ray tracing various parallel beams of light and determining the corresponding spot sizes of the image. We demonstrate that our inverse freeform design is superior to the classical design.