HMS Technology Sales
(415) 924-6300
harry@hmstechnologysales.com

   
Frequently Asked Questions

 
   
How can I get a free trial version of VirtualLab Fusion?
To contact HMS Technology Sales for a free trial version of VirtualLab click here
 
   
Are there limitations in the free trial version?
The free trial program has some limitations. It can be used 50 times, and each session is limited to 12 hours. After that, the usage counter will increase, until it reaches 50 usages.
The free trial version can be used for most VirtualLab functions, but it does not save data.
Some advanced functions, such as custom programming in C#, are not available in the free trial version.
 
   
How is VirtualLab Fusion sold: purchase? subscription?
The VirtualLab user license you purchase is permanent. There are no required annual fees. Software updates and general software support is included for the first year.
Optional annual renewals are available to receive VirtualLab software updates and general support during the following years. See below for update information.
 
   
Is there an annual maintenance charge?
There is no required annual maintenance charge. You can continue using the version you have without further payments.
See below for optional updates and annual renewals.
 
   
How can I get updates?
There is an optional annual renewal charge to receive VirtualLab software updates and general support during the following year. Without updating, you can continue using the version you have.
If there is a lapse in annual renewal updates, the next annual renewal charge is based on the last expiration date. For example, if the annual renewal has not been updated for two years, the next annual renewal will be for two years.
 
   
What VirtualLab Fusion programs do I need for modeling optical systems? gratings? diffractive optics?

VirtualLab Fusion programs are configured as follows:
VirtualLab Fusion Basic (VLF Basic) includes two programs:
  • Starter Toolbox and
  • Non-Sequential Extension
VirtualLab Fusion Advanced (VLF Advanced) includes three programs:
  • Starter Toolbox
  • Non-Sequential Extension and
  • Grating Toolbox - includes Fourier Modal Method FMM, which is the same as Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis RCWA, for modeling periodic structures
Optical systems:
VirtualLab Fusion Basic is for modeling laser systems, imaging systems, projection systems, interferometers, spectrometers, microscopes, telescopes, wafer inspection systems, ultrashort pulse propagation, pulse stretching and compresssion and more.

Gratings:
Surface relief gratings, volume holographic gratings and metagratings are modeled with VirtualLab Fusion Advanced, which includes the Grating Toolbox program.

Diffractive lenses and metalenses:
Modeling diffractive lenses and metalenses requires both the Diffractive Optics Gold version and VirtualLab Fusion Advanced.
Diffractive lenses are modeled with Local Linear Grating algorithm, which requires the FMM/RCWA in the Grating Toolbox, so VLF Advanced is required.
Metalenses are modeled with periodic nano-building blocks which require FMM/RCWA for rigorous analysis.

The VirtualLab Starter Toolbox program can model all the optical elements in the lightpath, including sources, all optical elements, detectors and analyzers. It includes catalogs of boundary responses, coatings, components, detectors, interfaces, light sources, materials and media, as well as programmable elements and processes.
The Starter Toolbox also includes parametric optimization for the entire optical system, such as distances, positions, sizes, angles, wavelengths, and many more parameters.
VirtualLab Fusion is an integrated software suite of programs for modeling all the microscale and macroscale components in an optical system.
 
   
Can I get more information on VirtualLab sofware for my application?
There are many examples, tutorials, webinars and videos about specific applications and operation of VirtualLab software.
To contact HMS Technology Sales for your requests and questions. click here
 
   
I have Zemax, Code V, FRED ray tracing software.
Why should I be interested in VirtualLab?
VirtualLab Fusion users typically have one or more ray tracing programs, such as Zemax, Code V, FRED or others. For applications with feature sizes close to, or even less than the wavelength, ray tracing accuracy is reduced. When diffraction, interference, polarization, wavefront aberrations and temporal and spatial coherence become significant, physical optics modeling is needed.
VirtualLab Fusion does fully vectorial solution of Maxwell's equations. It includes multiple Maxwell solvers and free space propagation methods.
Zemax can create a phase function (binary surface), but it cannot design the physical structure for a beam shaper, diffractive lens, metalens, grating or metagrating. VirtualLab can import a Zemax wavefront surface response, and create the physical structure design. Tne Parameter Run in VirtualLab can optimize the structure design, and fabrication files can be exported.
To see more about VirtualLab Fusion technology, click on the following link:
VirtualLab Maxwell Solvers, Free space propagation methods and Fast Physical Optics
VirtualLab Fusion is an integrated software suite of programs for modeling all the microscale and macroscale components in optical systems.
 
   
I have Lumerical, RSoft, Optiwave physical optics software.
Why should I be interested in VirtualLab Fusion?
Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) software is very useful for modeling nanophotonic devices, but it becomes computationally intensive as feature sizes increase.
FDTD is not efficient for modeling complete optical systems that require both rigorous analysis and also free space propagation methods.

VirtualLab Fusion includes multiple Maxwell solvers and free space propagation methods to model all the microscale and macroscale components in optical systems.
The optical system is decomposed into various regions, which are connected throughout the lighpath by non-sequential field tracing to solve specialized Maxwell's equations.

The free space propagation methods in VirtualLab Fusion are:Spectrum of Plane Waves, Fresnel operator, Far field operator and Geometrical optics operator. The free space propagation method for each region within the optical path can be automatically determined or manually selected. Automatic propagation selection criteria are chosen to minimize error as well as numerical effort. The recommended propagation method in each region can also be manually overridden.
Fourier Transforms switch the modeling between spatial (x) domain and frequency (k) domain to use the most efficient calculation algorithm in each region of the lightpath. Regions with diffractive optical elements, nanostructured components, scatterers, etc., are modeled by Maxwell solvers in the frequency (k) domain for efficient rigorous fast physical optics analysis.

For more information, click on: free space propagation and Maxwell solvers

VirtualLab is efficient for modeling ultrashort pulse propagation,laser systems, imaging systems, projection systems, interferometers, spectrometers, microscopes, telescopes, wafer inspection systems, VR/AR/MR light guide systems and more.
Components in these systems can include refractive lenses, diffractive lenses, hybrid lenses, metalenses, beam shapers, diffusers, microlens arrays, freeform surfaces, high NA optics, grin media, 2D/3D gratings, subwavelength gratings, volume holographic gratings, Bragg gratings, metagratings, ....
 
   
Does VirtualLab interface with Zemax or Code V?
VirtualLab can import data from Zemax, including: lens data, glass data, beam files, and binary 2 surfaces. VirtualLab can convert Zemax beam files (irradiance and phase) to fully vectorial electromagnetic field information. Zemax surface phase data is a convenient way to create a wavefront phase function, so VirtualLab Fusion can create a physical structure for beam shapers, diffractive lenses, metalenses, surface relief gratings, volume holographic gratings and metagratings.
VirtualLab has a Parameter Run to optimize the devices. Diffractive optics fabrication files are exported in multiple formats.

Code V vectorial field data can be imported by VirtualLab. Both the real and imaginary parts of the x, y, z components of the electromagnetic field can be imported.
 

To contact HMS Technology Sales for more information click here