Global and local optimization for optical systems

Issues concerning the efficiency of the Global Explorer (GE) algorithm are studied. Global optimization with GE consists of many local optimization runs with or without the escape function using the damped-least-squares method. In order to improve the efficiency of the local optimization and the GE run, two search schemes are incorporated. The first one searches for the best damping factor which effectively determines the optimum direction of the solution vector in the multi-dimensional variable space, and the second search is conducted along that direction to find the optimum length of the solution vector. Experiments are also made to determine the optimum default values for the parameters of the escape function. The algorithm with the improvements is successfully implemented in the GOLD program developed by Beijing Institute of Technology. Design examples using the software are given, which show that the global optimization feature is practical and powerful.