Partial Differential Equations in Lens Design

Optical phenomena are modelled by a variety of PDEs, including Maxwell equations, Helmholtz equation, Fresnel equation, the eikonal equation and more. Yet, PDEs were rarely used in lens design. This is changing now. I shall present a number of examples where PDEs are used in lens design. In particular I shall describe a first order system used in designing cornea surgery, a second order equation in designing optical elements for illumination systems and beam shaping, and fourth order equations used in the design of ophthalmic lenses.

Jacob "Koby" Rubinstein, Indiana University and the Technion, Israel

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