What is the PSD algorithm?
SYNOPSYS has the fastest lens optimization in the world, and no other program is even close. An example of this is given in the Optimization Challenge, where the program finds an excellent solution, for a lens that starts out with flat surfaces, in about one second. When this challenge is run according to the rules on other programs, the average RMS spot size comes out to be over 300 microns. Yet SYNOPSYS gets it down to less than 7. That's a big difference, and you will see this difference in speed when running any of the other features that involve optimization. In our test example the program accomplishes in less than one second a job that takes up to two hours on another program. How does it achieve this phenomenal speed?
Simple. We have developed an algorithm that reduces a merit function many times faster than the DLS (Damped Least Squares) method used by others in the industry. Details are given in papers we have scanned and posted. Please read PSD_II.pdf and PSD_III.pdf for details. We are quite proud of this mathematical advance, and we think you will value it as much as you value the time you will save when you choose SYNOPSYS for your lens design needs.