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Optics & Photonics

Optics & Photonics Simulators

Snell's law, lens systems, thin-film optics, laser cavities, and photodetectors — interactive tools for optics, photonics, and light-matter interaction.

— simulators
SIMULATORS
Diffraction Grating
Explore diffraction with our interactive simulator. Adjust grating parameters, wavelength, and angle to compute diffraction patterns, dispersion, and resolving
Diffraction
Visualize Young's double-slit interference in real time. Adjust wavelength, slit separation, and distance to see intensity patterns and calculate fringe spacing
Fiber Optics
Calculate fiber optic parameters: attenuation, pulse broadening, bandwidth, NA, V-number, and mode classification. Free online tool for engineers.
Fresnel Diffraction
Calculate Fresnel diffraction patterns for slits, apertures, and edges. Visualize the Cornu spiral and compute near-field intensity with this tool.
Hologram Pattern
Explore hologram creation with a real-time simulator. Adjust laser sources and wavelength to see how interference patterns form.
Laser Design
Calculate laser cavity parameters like threshold current and Q-factor in real time. Visualize L-I curves and mode spectra instantly.
Laser Optics
Calculate Gaussian beam parameters instantly. Enter beam waist, wavelength, and M² factor to get Rayleigh length, divergence, and beam profile.
Lens Optics
Explore lens optics with our interactive simulator. Adjust focal length, object distance, and height to see real-time ray tracing and image formation.
Lens Ray Tracer
Interactive optics simulator. Drag sliders to trace rays in real time, calculate image distance, magnification, and determine if the image is real or virtual.
Optical Fiber Comm
Explore optical fiber physics with an interactive simulator. Adjust refractive indices, visualize total internal reflection, and calculate key parameters like N
Optical Fiber Design
Calculate optical link loss, power margin, and dispersion penalty. Supports SMF/MMF fibers and key wavelengths for accurate network design.
Optical Fiber
Explore optical fiber physics: calculate critical angle, numerical aperture, and signal loss using core/cladding refractive indices.
Optical Microscopy
Calculate Rayleigh resolution, Abbe diffraction limit and depth of field from NA, wavelength and magnification. Visualize the Airy disk and compare with SEM/TEM
Optical Resonator
Design and analyze optical resonators in real time. Tune cavity parameters and instantly compute FSR, finesse, Q-factor, and photon lifetime with interactive ch
Optical Sensor
Calculate photodetector responsivity, NEP, D*, SNR, and noise in real time. Visualize noise contributions and optimize sensor performance with our free optical
Optics Lens
Interactive thin lens calculator. Adjust parameters to visualize ray diagrams, calculate image distance & magnification, and determine real/virtual image classi
Photodetector
Calculate photodetector performance for Si, InGaAs, APD, and PMT. Compute responsivity, SNR, NEP, D* and noise using key physics formulas.
Photoelectric Effect
Simulate the photoelectric effect by adjusting light frequency and intensity. Observe threshold frequency and stopping voltage.
Photon Energy
Calculate photon energy, flux, irradiance, and reaction rates instantly. Input wavelength, power, area, and quantum yield for fast photochemical computations.
Polarization Optics
Interactive tool to calculate polarization states. Input light and cascade optical elements to output Jones vectors, Stokes parameters, and Poincaré sphere visu
Snells Law
Explore Snell's Law with a real-time simulator. Adjust angles and materials to visualize refraction and total internal reflection. See the critical angle calcul
Thin Film Optics
Simulate multi-layer thin film reflectance and anti-reflection coatings in real time. Adjust parameters and see the resulting color and optical performance.
Young Double Slit
Visualize interference fringes in real time by adjusting wavelength, slit separation, and screen distance. Interactively explore Young's double-slit experiment
Single Slit Diffraction
Interactive Single Slit Diffraction simulator — calculate and visualize engineering parameters in real time using industry-standard methods.
Beer-Lambert Law Simulator
Interactive Beer-Lambert Law Simulator simulator — calculate and visualize engineering parameters in real time using industry-standard methods.
Wave-Particle Duality
Interactive Wave-Particle Duality simulator — calculate and visualize engineering parameters in real time using industry-standard methods.
Additive Color Mixing
Interactive Additive Color Mixing simulator — calculate and visualize engineering parameters in real time using industry-standard methods.
Lens Magnification Simulator
Interactive Lens Magnification Simulator simulator — calculate and visualize engineering parameters in real time using industry-standard methods.
Prism Refraction Simulator
Interactively visualize refraction, dispersion, and total internal reflection of light through a prism using Snell's law on canvas.
Photoelectric Effect Simulator
Simulate the photoelectric effect by adjusting light frequency and intensity. Observe threshold frequency and stopping voltage.

Other Categories

Structural Analysis Fluid & CFD Thermal Analysis Electromagnetics Vibration & Dynamics Fracture & Materials Controls & Signal Math & Numerical V&V & Accuracy Manufacturing Physics & Basics Mechanical Design Geotechnical Acoustics Chemistry & Biochem Quantum & Nuclear Space Environment

Optics & Photonics Fundamentals

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What is total internal reflection and how does it work in optical fibers?
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Total internal reflection occurs when light hits a boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle: θc = arcsin(n2/n1). In silica fiber (n1 ≈ 1.46, n2 ≈ 1.44), θc ≈ 80.5°. Light bounces endlessly along the core — that's how we transmit terabits per second over thousands of kilometers.
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How does a thin-film coating create anti-reflection?
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The coating thickness is λ/4 (quarter-wave). Reflections from the top and bottom surfaces are 180° out of phase and cancel by destructive interference. For a single layer, the optimal refractive index is n_coat = √(n1×n2). MgF2 (n ≈ 1.38) is common on camera lenses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How is the focal length of a lens calculated?

A: Lensmaker's equation: 1/f = (n-1)×(1/R1 - 1/R2). For a thin lens in air with both surfaces spherical. The lens equation 1/f = 1/do + 1/di relates object distance, image distance, and focal length. Magnification m = -di/do.

Q: What is the Abbe resolution limit?

A: d_min = λ/(2×NA), where NA = n×sinθ is the numerical aperture. For visible light (λ ≈ 500 nm) with NA = 1.4 (oil immersion), d_min ≈ 180 nm. Super-resolution techniques (STED, PALM) break this limit using nonlinear optical effects.

Q: How does the photoelectric effect demonstrate wave-particle duality?

A: Einstein showed that photons have energy E = hf. Electrons are ejected only when hf > φ (work function), regardless of light intensity. Maximum kinetic energy KE = hf - φ. The stopping potential V_stop = (hf - φ)/e — measurable to determine Planck's constant.

Q: What determines the efficiency of a solar cell?

A: Theoretical limit is Shockley-Queisser limit ≈ 33% for a single junction. Efficiency = Pmax/(Pin×A) where Pmax = Vmp×Imp. Key factors: bandgap (Si ≈ 1.1 eV optimal), recombination losses, reflection, and resistive losses. Multi-junction cells can exceed 45%.