Improving the Design of Optical Devices Through STOP Analyses

There is an ever-increasing interest in structural-thermal-optical performance (STOP) analysis for optical systems, in which temperature change and structural loads affect the optical performance. The need for STOP analysis is greatest for extremely high-power systems, those in extreme operating environments, or those in which highly accurate predictions are vital. Examples include industrial fiber laser systems, space-based laser interferometers, balloon-based telescopes, and solar thermal desalination systems.

A high-fidelity STOP analysis must consider the different pathways by which temperature changes affect optical performance. Most materials have temperature-dependent refractive indices. In addition, thermal stress may contribute to structural deformation alongside other applied loads such as gravity. If the optics themselves are the heat source, as in high-power fiber laser systems, the STOP analysis may require a bidirectional coupling in which the energy dissipated by the optics acts as an additional heat source in the thermal analysis.