Appendix: Reference Guide

Introduction

A.1 Listing of Objects and Functions

A.2 Listing of Objects Grouped by Category

Component Functions
Ray Sources
Model Functions
Optical Media
Ray-Tracing Engine
Parameters of Ray
Parameters of Component
Genetic Building Blocks

A.3 Description of Objects and Functions

A B C D E F G I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Introduction to the Appendix

The following sections in this Appendix provide you with a reference guide to every function and object of the standard LensLab package. Section A.1 gives you an alphabetized listing of LensLab's built-in objects and functions. Then, Section A.2 groups LensLab's objects and functions by category. Finally, Section A.3 lists definitions for LensLab's objects and functions. Since, these definitions are derived from LensLab's help messages, you can also use the Function Browser to examine these definitions on line.

A.1 Listing of LensLab Objects and Functions

Here is an alphabetical listing of LensLab's built-in objects and functions.

ABCDMatrix               ConjugateReflection        FocalPoint
ABCDOptic                CreatedRay                 FreezeIncrement
Absorption               CreateRay                  Fresnel
Acetone                  CreateRefractiveIndexModel FresnelSymmetry
ActiveComponent          CrossRendering             Front
AddTo                    CrownGlass                 FrontView
AffectedSurfaces         CurvatureDirection         Full3D
Air                      CustomBaffle               FunctionCenter
AllCreatedRays           CustomBeamSplitter         FusedSilica
AllDeflections           CustomBranchingSurface
AllSurfaces              CustomGeneticFunction      GenerationLimit
AuthorizeNewOptions      CustomGratingSurface       GenerationNumber
                         CustomIntrinsicSurface     Glycerine
Back                     CustomLens                 GraphicalOutput
Baffle                   CustomLensSurface          GraphicDesign
BaffleSpan               CustomMirror               GratingMirror
BaffleWithHole           CustomScreen               GratingSurface
BaK1                     CylinderGraphic            GridOfRays
BallLens                 CylindricalBaffle          GroupDescription
BallMirror               CylindricalLens
BeamSplitter             CylindricalLensSurface     Hole
BeamSplitterCube         CylindricalMirror          HoleBoundary
BiConcaveCylindricalLens CylindricalScreen          HoleOffset
BiConcaveLens            CylindricalShape           HorizontalSymmetry
BiConvexCylindricalLens
BiConvexLens             DeflectionFunction         IncrementComponentNumber
BirthPoint               Deflections                IndexFunction
BK7                      DeflectionNumber           InsideMedium
Black                    DesignWaveLength           Intensity
Boundary                 DiffractedOrders           InternalDirectionChange
BoxGraphic               Diffraction                IntersectionNumber
BranchingSurface         DiffractionMismatch        IntrinsicCylindricalSurface
BuildComponent           DiffractionOrderNumber     IntrinsicMedium
                         DovePrism                  IntrinsicSphericalSurface
ChangedComponent         DovePrismMirrored          IntrinsicSurface
ChangedRay               DrawSystem
ChangedSurface                                      JacobianMatrix
ChangeSurfaceIncrement   EdgeRendering
ChangeSurfacePosition    EfficiencyFunction         LaSF9
CircleGraphic            Empty                      LastSlot
CircleOfRays             EntranceCoordinates        LensDoublet
ClearBoundary            EscapeComponent            LensSurface
ColorView                Ethanol                    LensTriplet
Component                Ether                      LineOfRays
ComponentDescription     ExitPosition               LineStyle
ComponentFoundation
ComponentIncrement       Fiber                      Mesh
ComponentMedium          Fill, FillStyle            Methanol
ComponentNumber          FindIntensity              Mirror
ComponentRendering       FindFocus                  MirrorSpan
ConeOfRays               FindFocusFast              MismatchCutOff
Confine                  FindSpotSize               ModelIntensity
ConfinedNumber           FinishPoint                ModelRayColor
ConfinedPaths            FirstSlot                  ModelRefractiveIndex
ConfinedPosition         FocalLength                ModelSurfaceShape
ConjugateMirror          FocalPlaneTilt             ModulationTransferFunction

Listing of objects and functions, part one.

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MoveDirected                RainbowOfRays          SphericalShape
MoveDirected3D              Ray                    SpotPosition
MoveLinear                  RayChoice              SpotSize
MoveLinear3D                RayCurve               StandardGraphics
MoveReflected               RayEnd                 StartPoint
MoveReflected3D             RayLabel               Surface
Move, Move3D                RayLength              SurfaceBoundary
                            RayLineRGB             SurfaceCenter
NewAuthorizedOptions        RayLineStyle           SurfaceCoordinates
NewRay                      RayLineThickness       SurfaceFunction
NotFirstSlot                RayPointRGB            SurfaceIncrement
NotLastSlot                 RayPointSize           SurfaceLabel
NumberOfRays                RayPointStyle          SurfaceNormalCalculations
Numeric                     RaySelect              SurfaceNormalFunction
                            RayStart               SurfaceNormalMatrix
Off                         RayTilt                SurfaceNumber
OffAxis                     ReadRays               SurfaceRayIntersections
OpenSide                    RectangleGraphic       SurfaceRendering
OpticalLength               Reflectance            Surfaces
OpticalMedium               Reflection             SurfaceValue
OpticalSystem               Refraction             SwitchDirectionOnReflection
OriginalRay                 RefractiveIndex        SwitchIntrinsicMedium
OtherShape                  RenderedPolygons
OutputType                  RenderedSurfaces       TakeFrom
                            RenderSystem           Temperature
PAN                         RenderType             ThickLens
ParabolicLensSurface        ReplaceFor             ThinBaffle
ParabolicMirror             Resonate               ThinBeamSplitter
ParabolicMirrorWithHole     ReverseMigration       ThinLens
ParabolicShape              RodLens                ThinMirror
PinHole                     RodMirror              ThinParabolicMirror
Pipe                        RotationMatrix         ThinSphericalMirror
PlanarShape                 RunningCommentary      ThresholdIntensity
PlanoConcaveCylindricalLens                        TiltVector
PlanoConcaveLens            Sapphire               Toluene
PlanoConvexCylindricalLens  Screen                 TopView
PlanoConvexLens             ScreenPosition         Trace
PlotType                    SF11                   TranslationVector
PMMA                        SF5                    Transmission
Polarization                ShadowProject          Transmittance
PolygonalMirror             ShowRange              Turpentine
PolygonGraphic              ShowSystem             TwistAngle
Prism                       SideOfObject
PropagateSystem             SideView               Unconfine
PS                          Silicon                UnconfinedPosition
PVA                         Sketch                 UnconfinedPath
PVB                         SK11
PVF                         Solid                  Vacuum
PVP                         SphereGraphic          VerticalSymmetry
Pyrex                       SphericalBaffle
                            SphericalGratingMirror Water
Quartz                      SphericalLens          WaveLength
QuickTrace                  SphericalLensSurface   WedgeOfRays
                            SphericalMirror        Window
RadialSymmetry              SphericalScreen        Wire

                                                   ZincSelenide

Listing of objects and functions, part two.

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A.2 Listing of LensLab Objects Grouped by Category

Component Functions

ABCDOptic               CylindricalLensSurface     PinHole
                        CylindricalMirror          Pipe
Back                    CylindricalScreen          PlanoConcaveCylindricalLens
Baffle                                             PlanoConcaveLens
BaffleSpan              DesignWaveLength           PlanoConvexCylindricalLens
BaffleWithHole          DovePrism                  PlanoConvexLens
BallLens                DovePrismMirrored          PolygonalMirror
BallMirror                                         PolygonGraphic
BeamSplitter            EdgeRendering              Prism
BeamSplitterCube        Empty
BiConcaveCylindricalLens                           RectangleGraphic
BiConcaveLens           Fiber                      RodLens
BiConvexCylindricalLens Fill                       RodMirror
BiConvexLens            Front
Boundary                                           Screen
BoxGraphic              GratingMirror              SphereGraphic
BranchingSurface        ce GratingSurfa            SphericalBaffle
                                                   SphericalGratingMirror
CircleGraphic           InsideMedium               SphericalLens
ClearBoundary           IntrinsicCylindricalSurfaceSphericalLensSurface
ComponentMedium         IntrinsicSphericalSurface  SphericalMirror
ConjugateMirror         IntrinsicSurface           SphericalScreen
CrossRendering                                     SurfaceLabel
CurvatureDirection      LensDoublet                SurfaceRendering
CustomBaffle            LensSurface
CustomBeamSplitter      LensTriplet                ThickLens
CustomBranchingSurface                             ThinBaffle
CustomGratingSurface    Mesh                       ThinBeamSplitter
CustomIntrinsicSurface  Mirror                     ThinLens
CustomLens              MirrorSpan                 ThinMirror
CustomLensSurface                                  ThinParabolicMirror
CustomMirror            OpenSide                   ThinSphericalMirror
CustomScreen                                       Trace
CylinderGraphic         ParabolicLensSurface
CylindricalBaffle       ParabolicMirror            Window
CylindricalLens         ParabolicMirrorWithHole

Functions and related options that generate Component objects.

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Ray Sources

CircleOfRays        GridOfRays        NumberOfRays         Ray
ConeOfRays          LineOfRays        RainbowOfRays        WedgeOfRays

Ray-source functions and related options that generate Ray objects.

Model Functions

Black                                       ModelRayColor
CreateRefractiveIndexModel                  ModelRefractiveIndex
IndexFunction                               ModelSurfaceShape
ModelIntensity

Model functions and related options.

Optical Media

Acetone       Ether          PMMA    Pyrex       SK11          Water
Air           FusedSilica    PS      Quartz      Suprasil      ZincSelenide
BaK1          Glycerine      PVA     Sapphire    Toluene
BK7           LaSF9          PVB     SF11        Turpentine
CrownGlass    Methanol       PVF     SF5         Ultran30
Ethanol       PAN            PVP     Silicon     Vacuum

Labels for optical materials.

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Ray-Tracing Engine

After                    GraphicalOutput            RaySelect
Before                   LineStyle                  ReadRays
Black                    ModulationTransferFunction RenderSystem
ColorView                MoveDirected               RunningCommentary
Component                MoveDirected3D             ScreenPosition
CreateRay                MoveLinear                 ShadowProject
DrawSystem               MoveLinear3D               ShowRange
FindIntensity            MoveReflected              ShowSystem
FindFocus                MoveReflected3D            SideOfObject
FindFocusFast            Move, Move3D               SideView
FindSpotSize             OpticalSystem              SpotPosition
FocalLength              OutputType                 SpotSize
FocalPlaneTilt           PlotType                   StandardGraphics
FocalPoint               PropagateSystem            Surface
FrontView                QuickSurfaceSort           ThresholdIntensity
Full3D                   Ray                        TopView
GenerationLimit          RayChoice                  TwistAngle

Functions and options related to the ray-tracing engine portion of the package.

Parameters of Ray

BirthPoint                               RayLabel
ComponentIncrement                       RayLength
ComponentNumber                          RayLineRGB
ConfinedNumber                           RayLineStyle
ConfinedPosition                         RayLineThickness
DiffractionMismatch                      RayPointRGB
DiffractionOrderNumber                   RayPointSize
FreezeIncrement                          RayPointStyle
GenerationNumber                         RayStart
HoleBoundary                             RayTilt
HoleOffset                               RefractiveIndex
Intensity                                RotationMatrix
InternalDirectionChange                  SurfaceBoundary
IntersectionNumber                       SurfaceCoordinates
IntrinsicMedium                          SurfaceIncrement
NewAuthorizedOptions                     SurfaceNormalMatrix
OffAxis                                  SurfaceNumber
OpticalLength                            Temperature
OpticalMedium                            UnconfinedPath
Polarization                             UnconfinedPosition
RayCurve                                 WaveLength
RayEnd

Parameters of the Ray object.

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Parameters of Component

AddTo                                 OriginalRay
AllCreatedRays                        OtherShape
ChangedComponent                      ParabolicShape
ChangedRay                            PlanarShape
ChangedSurface                        RenderedSurfaces
Component                             RenderedPolygons
ComponentDescription                  RenderType
ConfinedPaths                         ReplaceFor
CreatedRay                            RotationMatrix
CylindricalShape                      SphericalShape
DeflectionFunction                    SurfaceBoundary
DeflectionNumber                      SurfaceCenter
Deflections                           SurfaceFunction
Empty                                 SurfaceLabel
EntranceCoordinates                   SurfaceNormalFunction
Fill                                  SurfaceNumber
FinishPoint                           SurfaceRayIntersections
HoleBoundary                          Surfaces
HoleOffset                            SurfaceValue
JacobianMatrix                        TakeFrom
Mesh                                  Trace
NewRay                                TranslationVector
Numeric

Parameters of the Component object.

Genetic Building Blocks

ABCDMatrix             EfficiencyFunction       PlanarShape
Absorption             EscapeComponent
ActiveComponent                                 RadialSymmetry
AddTo                  FirstSlot                Reflectance
AffectedSurfaces       FreezeIncrement          Reflection
AllCreatedRays         Fresnel                  Refraction
AllDeflections         FresnelSymmetry          ReplaceFor
AllSurfaces            FunctionCenter           Resonate
AuthorizeNewOptions                             ReverseMigration
                       GraphicDesign
BuildComponent         GroupDescription         Sketch
                                                Solid
ChangedComponent       Hole                     SphericalShape
ChangedRay             HorizontalSymmetry       SurfaceCenter
ChangedSurface                                  SurfaceLabel
ChangeSurfaceIncrement IncrementComponentNumber SurfaceNormalCalculations
ChangeSurfacePosition                           SurfaceRayIntersections
ComponentFoundation    LastSlot                 SurfaceRendering
ComponentRendering                              SwitchDirectionOnReflection
Confine                MismatchCutOff           SwitchIntrinsicMedium
ConjugateReflection    ModelSurfaceShape
CreatedRay                                      TakeFrom
CrossRendering         NewRay                   Temperature
CustomGeneticFunction  NotFirstSlot             Transmission
CylindricalShape       NotLastSlot              Transmittance
                       Numeric
DeflectionFunction                              Unconfine
DiffractedOrders       Off
Diffraction            OffAxis                  VerticalSymmetry
DiffractionMismatch    OriginalRay
DiffractionOrderNumber OtherShape               Wire

EdgeRendering          ParabolicShape

Genetic building blocks and related options comprising LensLab's component-structuring language.

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A.3 Description of LensLab Objects and Functions

ABCDMatrix

ABCDMatrix[component, {{a,b},{c,d}}, options] is a genetic building block that uses DeflectionFunction[ABCDMatrix, {{a,b},{c,d}}, {functionvariables}] to produce scattered rays according to the ABCD matrix law.

See also:
ExitPosition, ThinLens, ThickLens, and ABCDOptic.

ABCDOptic

ABCDOptic[abcdmatrix, aperture, thickness, options] denotes a two-surfaced planar component that scatters rays using the abcdmatrix specified with an entrance plane and an exit plane separated by the indicated thickness.

The
thickness parameter specifies either a number or a surface function of two variables. ABCDOptic is intended for simple two-dimensional ray-tracing procedures. See also: ABCDMatrix, ThinLens, and ThickLens.

Absorption

Absorption[component, options] is a genetic building block that creates a ray-tracing function to absorb the intensity of rays hitting the optical surface.

Acetone

Acetone specifies the use of an acetone liquid medium at 20 degrees Celsius.

The refractive index model for
Acetone is most suitable for the wavelength range of .43 microns to .66 microns. Acetone has a density of 0.791, relative to the density of water.

ActiveComponent

ActiveComponent -> True is an option that designates whether the component contains active surfaces where rays can interact.

ActiveComponent -> False is used when constructing inactive components made up of only graphical information. ActiveComponent is an option of ComponentFoundation.

AddTo

AddTo -> objecttypes is a rule within Deflections of Component that specifies the types of objects that receive the new parameter results.

AddTo does not replace the entire contents of the object but instead includes the new results with the old object contents. Possible object types of AddTo include NewRay, ChangedRay, OriginalRay, CreatedRay, AllCreatedRays, ChangedSurface, and ChangedComponent. Note that the OriginalRay object type is rarely changed. Modifications to the past Ray object type are generally made using ChangedRay instead. AddTo can take a list of object types, but is often a single value. See also: DeflectionFunction, TakeFrom, and ReplaceFor.

AffectedSurfaces

AffectedSurfaces is an option of BuildComponent that specifies which surfaces of Component are to be affected by a newly introduced ray-tracing function.

AffectedSurfaces carries a list of numbers and word values that denotes the surfaces inheriting a new ray-tracing function trait. As an example, AffectedSurfaces -> {1} specifies that the first surface function slotted in Surfaces is to inherit the new ray-tracing function trait. See also: AllDeflections, AllSurfaces, FirstSlot, NotFirstSlot, LastSlot, and NotLastSlot.

After

After is a value of SideOfObject.

Air

Air denotes the use of an air medium at 0 degrees Celsius and 760 millimeters Hg.

The refractive index model for
Air is most suitable for the wavelength range of .43 microns to .66 microns.

AllCreatedRays

AllCreatedRays is a value of TakeFrom, AddTo, and ReplaceFor and specifies that all Ray objects returned by previous ray-tracing function calculations are passed to or returned from DeflectionFunction.

If
AllCreatedRays is listed by TakeFrom, then AllCreatedRays is included as an input to the ray-tracing function calculation. If AllCreatedRays is listed by AddTo, then the elements of AllCreatedRays replace the previous AllCreatedRays object. See also: NewRay, CreatedRay, ChangedRay, OriginalRay, AddTo, and TakeFrom.

AllDeflections

AllDeflections is a value of AffectedSurfaces that denotes that the added genetic ray-tracing function slot number is interlaced throughout the listing of DeflectionNumber values.

In general, ray-tracing function traits are added to a surface by appending the ray-tracing function position (within
Deflections) to the affected DeflectionNumber value within ConfinedPaths. See also: AllSurfaces, FirstSlot, NotFirstSlot, LastSlot, NotLastSlot, and AffectedSurfaces.

AllSurfaces

AllSurfaces is a value of AffectedSurfaces of BuildComponent that specifies that the added ray-tracing function slot number is appended to all DeflectionNumber values.

In general, ray-tracing function traits are added to a surface by appending the ray-tracing function position (within
Deflections) to the affected DeflectionNumber value within ConfinedPaths. See also: AllDeflections, FirstSlot, NotFirstSlot, LastSlot, NotLastSlot, and AffectedSurfaces.

AuthorizeNewOptions

AuthorizeNewOptions[component, optionlabels, options] is a genetic building block used for adding new Ray option labels that are authorized to be carried within Ray objects across multiple ray/surface generations.

Ray parameters created by ray-tracing functions that are not listed in Options[Ray] or included in the NewAuthorizedOptions Ray object parameter are removed after the following surface encounter. Contents of optionlabels are added to NewAuthorizedOptions. See also: NewAuthorizedOptions.

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Back

Back is a value of CurvatureDirection.

Baffle

Baffle[aperture, thickness, options] denotes a planar, double-surfaced component having two absorbing sides.

Baffle is created with its first surface centered about the origin and its second surface positioned down the positive x axis. The aperture parameter may specify a circle, rectangle, or polygon depending on the number and type of elements listed by it.

BaffleSpan

BaffleSpan[{x1, y1}, {x2, y2}, thickness, height, options] is similar to Baffle except that its size and placement are specified by the two two-dimensional coordinates {x1, y1} and {x2, y2}.

BaffleSpan spans the specified coordinates and has the specified height.

BaffleWithHole

BaffleWithHole[aperture, holeaperture, thickness, options] designates a thick planar component with a hole created in its middle.

BaffleWithHole is created with its first surface centered about the origin and its second surface positioned down the positive x axis. The aperture and holeaperture arguments may denote a circle, rectangle, or polygon depending on the number and type of elements listed by it.

BaK1

BaK1 specifies the use of the BaK1 glass medium.

The refractive index model for
BaK1 is most suitable for the wavelength range of .35 microns to 2.3 microns.

BallLens

BallLens[diameter, options] denotes an entire spherical refractive component.

BallLens is created with its first surface centered about the origin and its second surface positioned down the x axis.

BallMirror

BallMirror[radius, options] denotes an entire spherical mirror.

BallMirror is created with a surface positioned at the origin and its diameter positioned down the x axis.

BeamSplitter

BeamSplitter[{percentreflected, percenttransmitted}, aperture, thickness, options] designates a planar, double-surfaced component that has a partially reflective/refractive side and a refractive side.

BeamSplitterCube is created with its splitting surface centered about the origin and its second surface positioned down the positive x axis. The aperture parameter may designate a circle, rectangle, or polygon depending on the number and type of elements listed by it.

BeamSplitterCube

BeamSplitterCube[{percentreflected, percenttransmitted}, side, options] refers to a solid cube beam splitter that has a partially reflective/refractive surface across its diagonal.

BeamSplitter is created with one face centered about the origin and the opposite face positioned down the positive x axis. The side parameter specifies the edge dimension of a cube.

Before

Before is a value of SideOfObject.

BiConcaveCylindricalLens

BiConcaveCylindricalLens[focallength, aperture, thickness, options] refers to a lens with two equally concave cylindrical surfaces.

BiConcaveCylindricalLens is created with its first surface centered about the origin and its second surface positioned down the positive x axis. The aperture parameter may specify a circle, rectangle, or polygon depending on the number and type of elements listed by it.

BiConcaveLens

BiConcaveLens[focallength, aperture, thickness, options] refers to a lens with two equally concave spherical surfaces.

BiConcaveLens is created with its first surface centered about the origin and its second surface positioned down the positive x axis. The aperture parameter may specify a circle, rectangle, or polygon depending on the number and type of elements listed by it.

BiConvexCylindricalLens

BiConvexCylindricalLens[focallength, aperture, thickness, options] designates a lens with two equally convex cylindrical surfaces.

BiConvexCylindricalLens is created with its first surface centered about the origin and its second surface positioned down the positive x axis. The aperture parameter may denote a circle, rectangle, or polygon depending on the number and type of elements listed by it.

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BiConvexLens

BiConvexLens[focallength, aperture, thickness, options] designates a lens with two equally convex spherical surfaces.

BiConvexLens is created with its first surface centered about the origin and its second surface positioned down the positive x axis. The aperture parameter may denote a circle, rectangle, or polygon depending on the number and type of elements listed by it.

BirthPoint

BirthPoint is a rule of Ray that gives the three-dimensional spatial coordinates of the original light source.

BK7

BK7 indicates the use of the BK7 glass medium.

The refractive index model for
BK7 is most suitable for the wavelength range of .35 microns to 2.3 microns.

Black

Black is a value used by the ColorView parameter where ColorView -> Black causes the rays to be rendered in black.

See also:
ModelRayColor, ColorView, and RayLineRGB.

Boundary

Boundary[boundaryparameters] designates a rectangular box that absorbs rays intercepted by its walls.

There are three methods for specifying
boundaryparameters: Boundary[{x1, y1, z1}, {x2, y2, z2}] uses the coordinates of top and bottom opposite corners of a rectangular box, Boundary[side] assumes a cube boundary, and Boundary[aside, bside] assumes a three-dimensional box that has a length specified by aside, a width specified by bside, and a height specified by bside. Optical systems usually have at least one boundary component listed at the end. Boundary is not rendered. See also: ClearBoundary.

BoxGraphic

BoxGraphic[{xmin, ymin, zmin}, {xmax, ymax, zmax}, options] specifies a three-dimensional rectangular box with its diagonally opposite corners placed at {xmin, ymin, zmin} and {xmax, ymax, zmax}.

BoxGraphic does not interact with rays in any way, but can be listed with active components or with other graphic components for creating passive three-dimensional shapes.

BranchingSurface

BranchingSurface[aperture, componentincrement, options] refers to a planar component that causes intersecting rays to branch to a different component position relative to the list position held by BranchingSurface.

BranchingSurface is usually employed after a beam-splitter-type component, in order to redirect split rays down a different component-listing pathway, thereby shortening ray-trace calculation times. BranchingSurface is not visually rendered, but can be used to sample the ray/surface positions. BranchingSurface is created with its surface centered about the origin. The aperture parameter may designate a circle, rectangle, or polygon depending on the number and type of elements listed by it.

BuildComponent

BuildComponent[objectset, options] synthesizes genetic traits from several Component objects into a single object.

While
BuildComponent is usually used by genetic building block functions, BuildComponent may also be used as an external function to combine several Component objects into a single Component unit. See also: GroupDescription and AffectedSurfaces.

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ChangedComponent

ChangedComponent is a value of TakeFrom, AddTo, and ReplaceFor and specifies that the Component object may be passed to or returned from DeflectionFunction.

ChangedComponent contains all of the Component object's contents, including changed parameters. The contents of ChangedComponent are used to replace the original Component object. See also: ChangedSurface, AddTo, and TakeFrom.

ChangedRay

ChangedRay is a value of TakeFrom, AddTo, and ReplaceFor and indicates that the modified Ray objects returned by previous ray-tracing function calculations are passed to or returned from the current DeflectionFunction.

ChangedRay results contain only modifications made to the original ray entering the surface. Note that OriginalRay contains the unmodified ray parameters entering the surface. See also: NewRay, CreatedRay, OriginalRay, AddTo, and TakeFrom.

ChangedSurface

ChangedSurface is a value of TakeFrom, AddTo, and ReplaceFor and specifies that a slotted element from Surfaces may be passed to or returned from DeflectionFunction.

Normally the contents indicated by
ChangedSurface is slotted inside the Surfaces rule of Component, replacing the slot's previous contents. See also: ChangedComponent, AddTo, and TakeFrom.

ChangeSurfaceIncrement

ChangeSurfaceIncrement[component, newincrement, options] is a genetic building block that changes the value of SurfaceIncrement.

ChangeSurfacePosition

ChangeSurfacePosition[component, newsurfaceposition, options] is a genetic building block that changes ConfinedPosition to a new value indicated by newsurfaceposition.

CircleGraphic

CircleGraphic[aperture, options] relates to a two-dimensional circle, ellipse, rectangle, or polygon lying in the horizontal x-y plane, depending on the designation of aperture.

CircleGraphic does not interact with rays in any way, but can be listed with active components or with other graphics components for creating passive three-dimensional shapes. The aperture parameter may designate a circle, rectangle, or polygon depending on the number and type of elements listed by it.

CircleOfRays

CircleOfRays[radius, options] creates a set of rays, starting in the y-z plane, equally distributed on the surface of a cylinder placed symmetrically about the positive x axis.

See also:
NumberOfRays.

ClearBoundary

ClearBoundary[boundaryparameters] refers to a rectangular box that terminates rays intercepted by its walls.

ClearBoundary does not set the value of Intensity to zero, and therefore is useful for defining modular optical subunits to be pieced into a larger system. There are three methods for specifying boundaryparameters: ClearBoundary[{x1, y1, z1}, {x2, y2, z2}] uses the coordinates of top and bottom opposite corners of a rectangular box, ClearBoundary[side] assumes a cube boundary, and ClearBoundary[aside, bside] assumes a three-dimensional box that has a length specified by aside, a width specified by bside, and a height specified by bside. Optical systems usually have at least one boundary component listed at the end. ClearBoundary is not rendered. See also: Boundary.

ColorView

ColorView -> rayparameterlabel is an option of DrawSystem and ShowSystem used to render rays with colors specified according to rayparameterlabel.

ColorView gives rayparameterlabel to ModelRayColor for determining ray colors. As examples: you can use ColorView -> Black to render the rays in black; ColorView -> WaveLength attempts to match the color of the ray to the wavelength; ColorView -> Automatic displays the initial RGBColor values assigned for the RayLineRGB ray parameter; ColorView -> rayparameterlabel for any rayparameterlabel other than WaveLength attempts to colorize each ray segment according to the rank of the rayparameterlabel value within the possible range of rayparameterlabel values, for the displayed rays selected by RayChoice and ShowRange. If more than one rayparameterlabel is indicated or the parameter contains a vector of three elements, then each of three values are assigned to the red, green, and blue colors. ColorView may also point to a list of three numbers representing the red, green, and blue colors used. See also: ModelRayColor, Black, and RayChoice.

Component

Component[genetic traits] is an object made up of g