Transient dynamical-thermal-optical system modeling and simulation

In modern high resolution optical systems like astronomical telescopes or lithographic objectives, performance degradations can be caused by various disturbances. Holistic optical system simulation is required to predict the performance or the high precision systems. In this paper a method for transient dynamical-thermal-optical system modeling and simulation is introduced. Thereby, elastic deformation, rigid body motion, and mechanical stresses due to dynamical excitation are calculated using elastic multibody system simulation and temperature changes are determined using thermal finite element analysis. The deformation, the motion, and the mechanically and thermally induced stress index changes are then considered in a gradient-index ray tracing. Finally, the presented method is applied in a dynamical-thermal single lens system.