An off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirror consists of a small section cut out  from a larger, so-called “parent” parabolic mirror. Working with these mirrors, especially for the first time, can seem like a daunting task.  However, with a little instruction and a bit of practice, OAPs can be fairly straightforward to manipulate and very handy to use.

This article describes a real-life assignment that required an OAP to be used with an existing optical system

This article explains:

• What coordinate break surfaces are, and how they work
• How to use the Global Vertex report to check your work
• Why coordinate break surfaces usually come in pairs
• Why coordinate break surfaces have to be co-located
• How to do all this the easy, simple, fun way

The article is accompanied by a ZIP archive containing the sample ZEMAX files used. This can be downloaded from the final page of the article.

This article explains:

• How to set up the coordinate breaks needed to make a scanning mirror
• How to use the Multiple Configuration Editor to sample multiple scan angles
• How to set up a galvanometer-style scanning mirror, where the mirror tilts about its vertex
• How to set up a polygon scanning mirror, where the mirror tilts about an offset point

The article is accompanied by a ZIP archive containing the sample ZEMAX files used. This can be downloaded from the final page of the article.

When working with a sequential optical system, it is usually most convenient to work in local coordinates. However, there are cases when working in global coordinates is easier: typically when working with perturbation data produced by FEA in systems with complex 3-D tilts and decenters. This article describes how to switch between sequential and global data entry methods.

This article describes how to use the Coordinate Return capability within ZEMAX.  The Coordinate Return makes it easy to automatically restore to the coordinate system of a desired surface.

This article is also available in Japanese.

This article demonstrates:

• How to model an off-axis parabolic mirror according to the manufacturer's specifications.
• How to center the image surface on the chief ray using the chief-ray solve.

The ZIP archive containing the sample file can be downloaded from the final page of the article.

Question: ZEMAX draws all my optical surfaces as if they has circular apertures. How do I make it draw a rectangular cross-section, or some general cross-section?

This article explains:

• How to create a Beam Splitter Cube in sequential ZEMAX using mutiple configurations
• How to simulaneously trace transmitted and reflected rays in the layout and analysis/calculation windows
• How to calculate the total power in both transmitted and reflected beams, accounting for polarization effects and thin-film coatings

The article is accompanied by a ZIP archive containing the sample file. This can be downloaded from the final page of the article.

This article explains:

• Why rays sometimes appear to trace behind fold mirror surfaces
• How to fix this problem
• The benefits of the “Add Fold Mirror” tool

This article explains how to use a conjugate surface in sequential ZEMAX to create an elliptical surface by specifying the foci of the ellipse as its parameters.

The sample files discussed can be downloaded from the last page of this article.