Physical Optics Propagation also gives you the capability to save the beam output for later review. You can then view the saved files using the Beam File Viewer.

To demonstrate these capabilities, open the file "Samples > Physical Optics > Tangential and Sagittal Focus.zmx". This file shows the propagation of a rotationally symmetric Gaussian beam through a toroidal lens (surfaces 2 and 3). The toroidal lens imparts astigmatism on the beam.

Open the settings for the Physical Optics Propagation window which computes the beam output at surface 6 (the image surface) and click on the "Display" tab. Check the box "Save Output Beam To" and specify Toroidal Lens for the filename next to the box. Then, check the box "Save Beam At All Surfaces" and click "OK".



ZEMAX will recompute the analysis but this time it will save the beam output at each surface. To view the saved output, select the main menu option "Analysis > Physical Optics > Beam File Viewer". Open the settings for the Beam File Viewer and click on the arrow to the right of the "File" drop-down box. This will show the available beam files that can be viewed. The name of the file that you saved (Toroidal Lens) will be listed along with a number appended at the end of it. The number corresponds to the surface number at which the beam in the file was saved. Since you checked "Save Beam At All Surfaces" in the POP window, a file will be listed for each surface. Choose the Toroidal Lens_0001 file and click "OK".



The output of the Beam File Viewer is essentially the same as a POP window. The settings of the Beam File Viewer include many of the same options available in the "Display" tab of a POP window. To look at the POP output at other surfaces, choose the appropriate file in the "File" drop-down in the Beam File Viewer settings.

TIP:  Pressing the left or right arrows on the keyboard will scroll through the beam outputs, one surface at a time.