Open the file "Samples > Non-sequential > Faceted objects > Toroidal faceted reflector.zmx" using then menu option, "File > Open" or the "Ope" button on the button bar.

This file demonstrates the use of mixed sequential/non-sequential ray tracing, where non-sequential components are used in combination with sequential surfaces.

If the "Use Session Files" option is checked under the File menu when the file is opened, both the the Lens Data Editor and Non-Sequential Editor will appear on the screen along with several analysis windows.

The 3D Layout plot shows sequential rays traced from a point source at the object surface at the middle-right hand side of the layout.



TIP:  You can double click on the title bar of a window to enlarge the window. Do this now with the 3D Layout window.

Select "Settings" from the 3D Layout window menu bar. Check the box that says "Fletch Rays" and then click "OK". ZEMAX now draws fletches (arrows) indicating the direction that rays are propagating. This option can be particularly helpful in many non-sequential systems where the ray paths can be complex.



The rays initially travel from left to right and enter a non-sequential component group where they hit a faceted mirror (object 1 in the Non-Sequential Component Editor) and reflect to the left where they exit the non-sequential group and hit a sequentially defined lens (surfaces 3 and 4 in the Lens Data Editor). The 3D Layout window may be rotated with the keyboard arrow keys and Page-Up and Page-Down keys to show different views. Double click again on the title bar of the layout to reduce the window to its original size.

TIP:  You can zoom in on an analysis window by clicking dragging inside the window to draw a box around the region you want to zoom in on. Do this now by drawing a box around the reflector in the 3D Layout window. Zoom settings can be fine tuned in the analysis window menu option, "Zoom".

You can now better see the individual facets of the reflector. There are many types of faceted objects that can be modeled in non-sequential mode in ZEMAX including toroidal surfaces, radial and polynomial aspheres and Fresnel lenses among others.

The Geometric Image Analysis window shows the unique and complex ray distribution formed on the image surface to the left of the lens.