Optical Design, Stray Light & STOP Analysis Services

Optical Design

Imaging and non-imaging system design from first-order layout through production-ready prescriptions — including coherent propagation and specialized infrared systems, with deep knowledge of infrared materials. Designs are engineered for manufacturability from the start, not fixed after the fact.

Tools: CODE V · Ansys Zemax OpticStudio · FRED

Optical layout of a multi-element lens, with colour-coded rays from several field angles traced through the elements to focus.

Three-mirror anastigmat: rays from several field angles traced off the primary, secondary and tertiary mirrors to the focal plane.

Ray trace through an unobscured off-axis reflective system, the beam folding between tilted mirrors.

Engineering Analysis

Analysis that predicts how the as-built system will actually perform: tolerance analysis to set achievable specs, stray light analysis and baffle design, structural-thermal-optical performance (STOP) analysis for harsh environments, and polarization analysis for demanding radiometric systems.

Tools: CODE V · Ansys Zemax OpticStudio · FRED · MATLAB · Mathcad

Non-sequential stray light trace: a red signal beam through an optical window, with scattered and ghost paths shown spreading away from it.

Optomechanical & Mechanical Design

Mounts, housings, baffles and structures designed alongside the optics — plus creation and review of ISO 10110 optical drawings that any supplier can build from.

Tools: SolidWorks

Cutaway view of a lens barrel showing coloured glass elements seated in their mounts and internal baffles, with rays passing through.

Manufacturing & Supply Chain Support

Early consultation with optical coating suppliers and manufacturers to ensure the system is manufacturable with ease, supplier selection and management, and full project management through system integration, testing and validation.

Built on long-standing relationships with prominent optics suppliers

Shaded three-dimensional model of assembled glass elements with polychromatic rays converging to focus.

Selected Projects

Mars Curiosity Rover Mastcam — STOP analysis
NASA DEMETER IIP instrument (0.2–50 µm) — design, analysis, AI&T
NASA SAGE IV IIP — ground precursor for space-based ozone monitoring, unobscured telescope
NASA ARCSTONE VNIR/SWIR hyperspectral imagers — STOP analysis, design review and consulting
NASA Lucy Mission – L’RALPH telescope — tolerance analysis, fabrication, coatings, STOP, alignment and optical testing
0.5 m diameter space astronomical telescope — optical design, analysis, AI&T planning
Space-based and lunar-based free-space laser communications terminals
Space-based cloud and fire detection instrument (visible, MWIR & LWIR)
Handheld LWIR hyperspectral imager (8–14 µm) — concept development and design
MWIR/LWIR zoom lens (3–12 µm) — design optimization and Narcissus reduction
Spectral gas monitoring system — design and analysis, 80% production unit cost reduction