Freeform Optics

Freeform Optics (Freeform)

Optica Design and Fabrication Congress
16 – 19 June 2025
Denver, Colorado, USA

Freeform Optics explores the evolving impact of freeform optical surfaces on optical systems for both imaging and nonimaging science and technologies.

New fabrication techniques that create optical surfaces that are not surfaces of revolution open an expansive new space for optical systems. Enabled systems include illumination systems, imaging optics from microscopy to space optics, including head-worn and head-up displays, and broadband pervasive surveillance systems. But optical testing methods for these new surfaces are lacking, and the theory and implementation of an aberration theory as a basis for optical design of these surfaces was only unraveled in 2012. The scope features work on the optical design of imaging systems with freeform surfaces, evolving methods for surface representation for nonimaging system optimization and a perspective on the new challenges these surfaces present to optical testing.

 

 

Topic Categories

With the ever expanding successes from the introduction of freeform surfaces into both imaging and nonimaging optical systems, there is innovative work being done in both academia and industry in all areas of optical system evolution including:

1. Optical Design
2. Optical System Simulation
3. Surface Representation
4. Fabrication
5. Metrology/Testing
6. Optical System Alignment and Assembly

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Chairs

Jessica DeGroote Nelson

Edmund Optics Inc., United States,
General Chair

Fabian Duerr

Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium,
General Chair

Kyle Fuerschbach

Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque, United States,
Program Chair

Jannick Rolland

University of Rochester, United States,
Program Chair

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Committee Members

• Jessica DeGroote Nelson, Edmund Optics Inc., United States, General Chair
• Fabian Duerr, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium, General Chair
• Kyle Fuerschbach, Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque, United States, Program Chair
• Jannick Rolland, University of Rochester, United States, Program Chair
• Jeroen Cerpentier, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
• Scott Defisher, OptiPro Systems, United States
• Paul Dumas, QED Technologies Inc, United States
• Goldie Goldstein, Nikon Research Corporation of America, United States
• Joseph Howard, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, United States
• John Koshel, Univ of Arizona, Coll of Opt Sciences, United States
• Thierry Lepine, Institut d'Optique Lab Hubert Curien, France
• Cormic Merle, Arizona Optical Metrology, United States
• Julius Muschaweck, JMO Illumination Optics GmbH, Germany
• Jose Sasian, Univ of Arizona, Coll of Opt Sciences, United States
• Eric Schiesser, Synopsys, Inc, United States
• Thomas Suleski, Univ of North Carolina at Charlotte, United States
• Nick Takaki, Synopsys, Inc, United States
• Wilhelm Ulrich, Carl Zeiss AG
• Garrett West, BAE Systems North America, United States
• Tong Yang, Beijing Institute of Technology, China

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Invited Speakers

Freeform Optics (Freeform)

• Aaron Bauer, University of Rochester, United States
  Designing an All-reflective Microscope Objective for Ultra-broadband Imaging
• James Burge, AOM - Arizona Optical Metrology LLC, United States
  Mainstream Adoption of Freeform Optics Requires a Change in How We Specify, Manufacture, Measure, and Mount them
• Jordan Hall, Opto-Alignment Technology Inc, United States
  Relational Metrology for Freeform Surfaces with Large Departure from Rotational Symmetry
• Xiangqian Jiang, University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom
  Title to be Announced
• Yuxuan Liu, Apple Inc., United States
  Analytical Aberration Theory for Plane-symmetric Optical Imaging Systems
• Christoph Menke, Carl Zeiss AG, Germany
  Freeform Gradient Index Designs for Progressive Addition Lenses
• Yunfeng Nie, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
  On the Use of Deep Learning for Freeform Imaging System Design
• Sam Powers, OptiPro Systems, United States
  Platform and Sensor Advancements for Non-Contact Surface Metrology
• Christopher Roll, MIT LINCOLN LABORATORY, United States
  Progress Toward Automated Alignment of Freeform Optics
• Eric Ruch, Sagem SA, France
  The Future Challenges of Freeform Optics in Space Instruments
• Eric Schiesser, Synopsys, Inc, United States
  Design Tools for Using Cartesian Ovals in Freeform Imaging Systems
• Greg Schmidt, U of Rochester, The Institute of Optics, United States
  Challenges with Freeform GRIN Index Optics Fabrication
• Greg Schmidt, U of Rochester, The Institute of Optics, United States
  Challenges with Freeform GRIN Index Optics Fabrication
• Lien Smeesters, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
  Compact Wide Field-of-view Freeform Optics for Hyperspectral Earth observation
• Kevin Whiteaker, BAE Systems, United States
  Overview of Freeform Optics for Space and Tactical Payloads with Goals Beyond just Imaging
• Rengmao Wu, Zhejiang University, China
  Design and Fabrication of Freeform Holographic Optical Elements

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Plenary Speakers

Junsuk Rho

Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea

Metasurfaces for Imaging, Sensing and Display

 

Jessica van Heck

Phabulous Pilot Line Association, Switzerland

Unlocking Innovation: The European Value Chain for Advanced & Free-Form Micro-Optics

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