‘First time right’ freeform optics

Today's design of optical systems relies largely on efficient ray tracing and optimization algorithms. Such a ‘step‐and‐repeat’ approach to optical design typically requires considerable experience, intuition, and trial‐and‐error guesswork. Brussels Photonics (B‐PHOT) researchers have developed a design method that allows highly systematic generation and evaluation of directly calculated freeform design solutions and enables a rigorous, extensive, and real‐time evaluation in solution space. Readers have the opportunity for hands‐on freeform design experience via an open‐access web application.