Navigation: Geometry > Surfaces > Surface Dialog Tabs > Ray Controls and Coatings

 

Ray Controls and Coatings

 

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Description


This feature allows the user to select the surface coating and ray controls associated with a surface.  Any of the Coatings and Ray Controls defined in the current FRED document may be assigned to the surface.  In addition, new Coatings and Ray Controls can be added to the FRED document from this dialog and existing Coatings and Ray Controls can be edited.

 

The coating determines the power in the transmitted, reflected, total internal reflected (TIR), and absorbed rays based on the angle of incidence, polarization, and wavelength of the ray.

 

The ray controls determine whether transmitted, refracted, reflected, total internal reflected, split (due to Fresnel reflections), and/or scattered rays will be traced from the surface.

 

When a ray intersects this surface, FRED follows the this procedure:

1.

 

Check the Ray Controls to determine what rays can be traced from the surface.

2.

 

Check the coating to determine what rays can be generated at the coating

3.

 

Check to see if there are scatter properties assigned to this surface

4.

 

Determine where the scatter rays are directed.

5.

 

Generate the rays that meet all four criteria, i.e. rays that can be ray traced, would be generated by the coating, meet the scatter properties, and have the correct direction

6.

 

Assign power to the created rays according to the coating and scatter properties.

 

NOTE: When a ray intersects a surface, the Ray Controls are checked first and then the Coating.  Further, the Ray Control check is a “yes” or “no” check where as the Coating check requires a calculation.  Therefore, the fastest way to stop rays during a raytrace is to use the Ray Controls.

 

 

Navigation


This feature is accessed by selecting the Coating/RayControl tab in a surface dialog box.

 

 

Controls


Control

Inputs / Description

Defaults

Ray Colors

Transmit

Reflect

Diffract

Scatter

Ray colors can be specified for ray transmission, reflection, diffraction, or scatter. This feature is useful for tracking rays or identifying paths in the visualization window.

No change in color

Coating

Coating

Assigns coating to surface. Coating properties establish what portion of the incident ray is reflected, transmitted, and absorbed. Coatings can be edited, viewed, or added to the list.

Absorb

Raytrace Control

Raytrace Control

Assigns Raytrace controls to surface. Raytrace controls determine which possible rays will be traced from the surface after the intersection. Raytrace controls can be edited, viewed, or added to the list.

Halt All

 

OK

Accept settings and close dialog box.

 

Close

Discard settings and close dialog box.

 

Apply

Apply settings and keep dialog box open.

 

Help

Access this Help page.

 

 

 

Related Topics


Create New Raytrace Control Set

Create New Coating

Create New Surface

How power is assigned to rays

 

 

 

 

 

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