SPIE - Education Integrated Opto-Mechanical Analysis SC254

This course presents optomechanical analysis methods to optimize the performance of imaging systems subject to environmental influences. Emphasized is the application of finite element techniques to develop efficient and practical models for optical elements and support structures from early design concepts to final production models. Students will learn how to design, analyze, and predict performance of optical systems subject to the influence of gravity, pressure, stress, harmonic, random, transient, and thermal loading. The integration of optical element thermal and structural response quantities into optical design software including ZEMAX and CODEV is presented that allow optical performance metrics such as wavefront error to be computed as a function of the environment and mechanical design variables. Advanced techniques including the modeling of adaptive optics and design optimization are also discussed. Examples will be drawn from ground-based, airborne, and spaceborne optical systems. This course presents optomechanical analysis methods to optimize the performance of imaging systems subject to environmental influences. Emphasized is the application of finite element techniques to develop efficient and practical models for optical elements and support structures from early design concepts to final production models. Students will learn how to design, analyze, and predict performance of optical systems subject to the influence of gravity, pressure, stress, harmonic, random, transient, and thermal loading. The integration of optical element thermal and structural response quantities into optical design software including ZEMAX and CODEV is presented that allow optical performance metrics such as wavefront error to be computed as a function of the environment and mechanical design variables. Advanced techniques including the modeling of adaptive optics and design optimization are also discussed. Examples will be drawn from ground-based, airborne, and spaceborne optical systems.