Best Optical Design Software in Europe

Multiphysics software from COMSOL allows you to simulate real-world designs, processes, and devices. Multipurpose simulation software that uses advanced numerical methods. Fully coupled multiphysics and single physics modeling capabilities. The entire modeling process, from geometry to postprocessing. Easy-to-use tools for creating and deploying simulation applications. The COMSOL Multiphysics® software provides a consistent user interface regardless of engineering application or physics phenomena. Add-on modules offer specialized functionality for electromagnetics and structural mechanics. You can choose from a variety of LiveLink™, products to interface with CAD or other third-party software. COMSOL Server™ and COMSOL Compiler™, allow you to deploy simulation applications. This software platform allows you to create simulation applications and physics-based models.

3DOptix, a cloud-based platform for optical design and simulation, allows users to efficiently design, simulate and refine optical systems. It offers rapid analysis capabilities using cloud and GPU acceleration without the need for any local installations. The platform offers an extensive library of optical and optomechanical components that are available off-the-shelf, allowing for the creation of accurate digital prototypes. The 3D graphical user interface is intuitive and features drag-and drop functionality, real-time visualisation and simplifies the design process. 3DOptix allows for both sequential and nonsequential ray-tracing. This allows for comprehensive modeling of optical systems. It also offers real-time collaborative tools that allow multiple users to work simultaneously on the same project, with easy sharing through cloud links. The platform can be accessed via any web-browser, eliminating the need to install specific hardware or software.

VirtualLab Fusion, an advanced optical design tool, facilitates fast physical optometry modeling by connecting different field solvers via a unique operator-channel concept. This integration allows simulations to be done efficiently, while maintaining accuracy and speed. The software provides a variety of packages that are tailored to specific optical design requirements, and includes tools and functionalities for diverse applications. VirtualLab Fusion's intuitive interface simplifies the design process and allows users to focus on optimization and innovation. The platform offers tips, tricks, webinars, training and webinars that will enhance user proficiency. Users can also download a free version to test the software.

Create reflectors or lenses quickly and easily with LucidShape FunGeo. It uses proprietary algorithms to automatically calculate and construct the optical geometries using user-defined patterns of illuminance or intensity. This functional approach allows you to focus on the overall design goals rather than the implementation of complex optical components. Accelerate LucidShape lighting simulations with GPUTrace to experience a quantum jump in speed! LucidShape, the first optical simulation program to use graphics processing unit computing, can increase simulation speed by orders of magnitude when compared to multithreading capabilities. LucidShape’s visualize module can be used to show luminance effects and all interactions between system geometry, light sources and illumination.

Ansys SPEOS predicts how systems will perform in terms of illumination and optical performance. This saves prototyping time, costs, and improves product efficiency. Ansys SPEOS offers a user interface that is intuitive and comprehensive, enhanced productivity through the use of GPUs to preview simulations and easy access into the Ansys multiphysics ecosystem. The International Commission on Illumination has evaluated SPEOS against CIE 171-2006 test cases. This assessment evaluates the accuracy of light modeling software, and shows the performance benefits of Ansys SPEOS. You can intuitively explore the propagation and light in 3D by turning on the light in the virtual model. SPEOS Live preview functions allow you to design products interactively by combining simulation and rendering capabilities. You can reduce iteration time and speed-up your decision-making by performing simulations correctly, automatically designing optical surfaces, light guides, and optical lenses.

Combining Monte Carlo Ray Tracing, analysis, CAD Import/Export and Optimization methods with a robust macro language, this macro language solves a variety of problems in illumination design. TracePro's 3D CAD interface is easy to use. You can import CAD files or lens designs, or create solid geometry directly. TracePro employs a solid modeling engine that ensures consistent and robust models. TracePro's Ray Tracing Engine is fast and precise. Perfect ray tracing of all surfaces, even imported splines. No missed intersections or "leaky rays". TracePro's Analysis Mode ray-tracing is an extremely powerful tool that creates an interactive environment. Analysis Mode allows you to analyze any surface or object visually and quantitatively.

Ansys Zemax OpticStudio, a comprehensive optical design tool, is used by companies and universities around the world to create and analyze optical system, including illumination, imaging, and laser systems. It has a user-friendly, integrated interface that integrates optimization, analysis, and tolerancing, making it easy to design complex optical systems. The software allows for both sequential and nonsequential ray-tracing to accurately model light propagation in various optical components. Users can assess the impact environmental factors have on optical performance using advanced features such as structural and thermal analyses. OpticStudio provides extensive libraries of optical elements and materials, which enhances the accuracy of simulations. Ansys offers students a free version OpticStudio that allows them to design and analyze optical systems. This will prepare them for careers in optics.

OSLO (Optics Software for Layout and Optimization), a comprehensive optical design software, was developed by Lambda Research Corporation. It combines advanced ray-tracing, optimization, and analysis methods with a fast internal compiled language to enable users to tackle a wide range of challenges in optical designing. OSLO's open-architecture gives designers the flexibility to define systems and constrain them according to their requirements. The software can model a variety of optical components including refractive and reflective optics, diffractive optics, gradient index optics, aspheric and freeform lenses, and more. Its robust ray-tracing algorithms and analytical tool set provide a solid basis for optimizing and evaluating optics such as lenses, telescopes and other optical systems. OSLO has been used to design a wide range of optical systems including space telescopes and camera lenses.

Ansys Lumerical Multiphysics, a photonics simulation software, allows for the seamless design of components by capturing multiple physics effects such as optical, thermal, electric, and quantum well interactions within a unified environment. This intuitive product design software is tailored for design engineering workflows. It offers a fast experience that facilitates rapid design exploration, and provides detailed insights into the real-world performance of products. It combines accurate high-fidelity simulation with live physics in an easy-to use interface that supports faster time-to market. The key features include a finite-element design environment, integrated workflows for multiphysics, comprehensive material models and capabilities for optimization and automation. Lumerical Multiphysics' solvers and workflows are designed to capture the interaction of physical effects when modeling passive and active photonics components.

FRED is an all-in-one tool that simulates light propagation through optomechanical devices using ray tracing. It allows users to assign realistic surfaces to each component of a system. The software offers fast and accurate simulations of different light sources such as LEDs, lasers, arc lights, bulbs, ideal emitters and ray sets defined by the user. The software includes advanced geometry, scattering, optimization, tolerance, scripting and graphic tools. It also allows for fine-grained control of ray trace characteristics during simulations. It offers comprehensive post-trace analyses and reports, as well as real-time visualisation and editing of complex mechanical and optical systems. FRED comes in three editions. FRED Classic provides the core capabilities to propagate light through optomechanical system.

LightTools is an integrated 3D optical engineering software that allows for virtual prototyping, simulations, optimizations, and photorealistic renderings. It allows users to create illumination designs that are accurate the first time. This reduces prototype iterations, and accelerates time to market. The key features are sophisticated solid modeling, with full optical accuracy. State-of-the art ray tracing with user-controlled accuracy, and the ability for users to create light sources using any geometric model. LightTools provides application-specific utilities that help users build complete models quickly, extensive material and source libraries, including LEDs, BSDF measurements and robust data interchange support for mechanical CAD. The software offers an interactive, dynamic connection with SOLIDWORKS. It includes multiple modules which can be licensed to meet user needs.

Synopsys OptSim, a photonic integrated circuit simulator (PIC) that has won numerous awards, allows engineers to design photonic circuits and optimize systems. It provides state-of-the art split-step algorithms in the time-domain and frequency-domain, providing a native-domain photonic environment for accurate simulations. OptSim is available as a standalone application with its own graphical interface, or can be integrated into the OptoCompiler Photonic IC Design Platform. OptSim integrates seamlessly with PrimeWave's Design Environment, allowing for advanced simulations, analyses, visualizations, and simulations. This includes parametric scans and Monte Carlo. The software supports a wide range of foundry process design kit (PDK) and includes a large library of photonic and electronics components and analysis tools.

Synopsys OptoCompiler, the industry's leading unified electronic-photonic design platform combines mature and dedicated photonic technologies with Synopsys industry-proven electronics design tools to allow engineers to quickly and accurately produce and verify complex integrated circuit designs. OptoCompiler, by combining schematic-driven layout with advanced photonic layout generation in a single platform to bridge the gap between photonic specialists and integrated circuit designers, makes photonic design more accessible, flexible, and fast. OptoCompiler offers features for hierarchical and electronic-photonic design to allow multiple designers to work together in order to reduce product development cycle time. The platform includes native photonic simulations in conjunction with electrical simulators that are industry standard. This allows for accurate simulations that take into account statistical variations.

OpTaliX is an advanced program for computer-aided optical system design, thin film multilayer coatings and illumination systems. It has powerful features that allow you to conceptualize, design and optimize any optical system, as well as analyze, tolerate and document it. OpTaliX offers geometrical and diffraction analyses, optimization, thin-film multilayer analysis and refinement. It also includes polarization analysis and ghost imaging. It has been used successfully for the design and manufacture of photographic and video lens, industrial optics (beam extenders, laser scanners and reproduction, machine vision), medical optics and illumination devices, as well as zoom optics and space optics.

RayViz, a SOLIDWORKS Add-In developed by Lambda Research Corporation, allows users to apply and store optical properties directly in the SOLIDWORKS environment. This integration allows the assignment of optical properties from the TracePro database. These are then stored in the SOLIDWORKS models. SOLIDWORKS allows users to define light sources, perform ray-tracing, and visualize light rays. This is useful for tasks such as beam path verification, detection of mechanical structures vignetting, and identification light leakage within light guides. RayViz contains catalogs of LEDs, as well sources with Gaussian or Lambertian beam profiles. RayViz's ability to save SOLIDWORKS files in TracePro format allows for comprehensive optical analysis using TracePro. TracePro's "update from RayViz", which allows for synchronization, is a great option if you make changes to the SOLIDWORKS models.

Ansys Lumerical FDTD, the gold-standard in modeling nanophotonic devices and processes, is the Ansys Lumerical FDTD. The integrated design environment allows for scripting, advanced post-processing and optimization routines. This finely tuned implementation delivers the best-in-class solver performance across a wide range of applications. The integrated design environment allows you to focus on your design while we take care of the rest. Flexible and customizable models and simulations are possible with a variety of benefits. Ansys Lumerical FDT Models nanophotonic devices, processes, and materials so that you can concentrate on creating. Lumerical FDTD, the gold-standard in modeling nanophotonic devices and processes, is the Lumerical FDTD. This carefully crafted implementation of the FDTD method provides reliable, powerful, and scalable solver performance across a wide range of applications.

Synopsys CODE V is an optical design software which allows engineers to model, analyse, optimize and support the fabrication imaging optical systems. It has advanced capabilities for designing optical components including freeform surfaces. It also offers tools such as global optimization for global optimization, intelligent glass selection and beam synthesis propagation to accurately analyze diffraction. CODE V's robust tolerance features reduce manufacturing costs by compensating and predicting potential fabrication and assembly mistakes. The software is also interoperable with other Synopsys products, such as LightTools for the design of comprehensive optical and illumination systems. Comprehensive graphics capabilities, including 3D visualizations, data plots and shaded displays.

BeamXpertDESIGNER, a laser simulation program, allows for the real-time simulation and analysis of laser radiation propagation in optical systems. It has a CAD like 3D representation that allows for quick and accurate results. The software is easy to use and allows users to get reliable results after only an hour of training. Its interactive interface allows users to manipulate optical components directly through drag-and drop functionality with real-time updates of the beam path. BeamXpertDESIGNER offers parameters such as the beam diameter, waist location, and Rayleigh distance, all in accordance with ISO 11145 and 11146. The software comes with a database of over 20,000 optical components from different manufacturers. This allows users to integrate industry-standard components in their designs. It also offers functions for optimizing and analyzing optical systems.

Polaris-M, developed over a decade at the University of Arizona's Polarization Laboratory and licensed to Airy Optics in 2016, is an optical design software and polarization analysis tool. It integrates ray-tracing-based methods with polarization calculation, 3D simulation, anisotropic material, diffractive optical simulation, stress birefringence, diffraction, and diffraction theories. It was developed over a decade by the University of Arizona Polarization Laboratory, and licensed to Airy Optics, Inc. in 2016. It includes over 500 functions, including ray-tracing, aberration calculations, polarization elements and stress birefringence. Polaris-M is a Mathematica program that includes a powerful macro language to design optical systems and a set of algorithms in graphics, computer algebra and numerical analysis. The software includes a comprehensive documentation, with active help pages that can be accessed via the F1 button, providing explanations, inputs and outputs, as well as live examples.

BeamWise consists of a set software tools and services for the design and development of biophotonic systems and other complex optical devices. It is implemented with Design++, an engineering platform based on knowledge that simplifies the capture and integration of engineering expertise within the company. BeamWise bridges the gap between optical and mechanical worlds, by integrating design rules and a library of components into CAD tools such as AutoCAD and SolidWorks. This ensures that beam alignment remains constant throughout the system even when design changes are made. This design automation system addresses major challenges in optical system development, such as costly prototypes, time-consuming documentation and poor instrument performance prediction, by automating 3D CAD models, design documentation and drawings.

ELEOptics was founded in 2019 and is dedicated to advancing the field of optical engineering by providing innovative software solutions that streamline design and collaborative processes. Their product suite includes Ember - a desktop application that allows for dynamic first-order and third-order analysis; Spark - a cloud platform that improves teamwork through version control and tracking project requirements; ARC - an application integrated with Onshape for seamless optomechanical system development; Aurora - a cutting edge optical physics library enabling rapid iteration with a user friendly API. ELEOptics is committed to fostering a vibrant optical community. It also provides a platform where professionals can collaborate and share ideas, driving innovation.