Antonio L. Williams

Simultaneous design optimization of optomechanical systems

The process for designing optomechanical devices usually involves independent design optimization within each discipline. For instance, an optics engineer would optimize the optics of the device for image quality using Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tools such as CODE V and OSLO. The structural engineer would then optimize the design to minimize deformation using CAE tools such as SDRC I-DEAS and MSC/NASTRAN. That is, the optics and structure are typically optimized independent of each other. In this paper, two additional methods for optimizing optomechanical devices are investigated. One method involves sequential design optimization. The other method involves the simultaneous design optimization of both the optics and structure of an optomechanical device. Two example problems are used to ex;lore the types of problems that each method is most suitable for. The first example involves an optomechanical device under thermal and gravity load, while the second example involves two thin lenses resting on a cantilevered beam.