Optical Design Suite
Champaign, IL, May 31 -- Optica Software, a developer of virtual modeling and optical testing software for Mathematica technical computing software, has introduced a new suite of optical design products: Rayica, Wavica and LensLab.
Rayica optical design software performs geometric, nonsequential and polarization ray-trace calculations of optical systems in 3-D space. It features a searchable component database of more than 6800 commercial optical parts.

Model of the optical behavior of a diamond solitaire gem with 58 facets as it reflects and refracts rays of light in Rayica. The colors indicate the amount of energy present in each ray on a logarithmic scale.
Wavica is the first optical design package to use a fully analytic approach for modelling optical systems, the company said. It uses both Rayica and Mathematica to calculate analytic optical models for applications in physical optics, global optimization, symbolic paraxial and higher-order solutions, diffraction, interference and Gaussian-beam propagation.
LensLab is an entry-level product that offers some enhancements to the original Optica product but costs less than Rayica.
Both Rayica and Wavica are now shipping.
LensLab is an entry-level product for amateur users that offers some enhancements to the original Optica product, but at a lower cost than Rayica. LensLab is scheduled for release June 1.
Optica Software products can be used for applications including optimization, lasers and resonators, nonsequential calculations, stray-light analysis, time-dependent optical systems, imaging systems, spectroscopic measurement, astronomical systems, solar concentrators, fiber optic systems, optomechanical systems, polarization calculations, turbulent media and photon-density calculations.
For more information, visit: www.opticasoftware.com; e-mail: [email protected]
Optica Software (Division of iCyt Mission Technology Inc.)
1816 South Oak St.
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 328-9396 ext. 18
Fax: (217) 328-9692