Defining Properties

2.Select File|Import Property to import a text file (in the proper format) with the definition of a surface source property. The dialog box prompts you to enter the name and location of the file to import.

Gradient Index Properties Standard Expert

Gradient Index (GRIN) Properties describe materials with indices of refraction that are not constant over the extent of the object. Examples include glass lenses in which the index varies from the edge to the center (e.g., as seen in some eyeglasses) or optical fibers that vary the index across the cross section (e.g., step or gradient optical fiber). Such materials are made via a number of different methods including diffusion, sol-gel, and melding.

The gradient index varies the index of refraction along a parametric profile.

Gradient index properties are identified by name and stored in a database. The Gradient Index Property editor allows you to edit gradient index properties or create new gradient index properties. For more information about “Gradient Index Profile Polynomials”, see page 7.9.

Note: GRADIUM, one of the types in the Type dropdown box of the Gradient Index Property Editor, must be treated differently. GRADIUM is a trademark of a company with a unique treatment of data. Unlike others, the GRADIUM Gradient Index includes material property data and does not require association with a material property. In cases like this one, Do NOT Apply a material property to anything of the type Gradium.

For all other Gradient Index properties, you must apply a material property to supply the base index of refraction. For example, an Axial-Radial profile can be defined with the data shown in Figure 3.11.

Gradient Index Property Editor

In TracePro, a material’s GRIN properties are identified by a name and stored in a database.

The Gradient Index Property editor lets you edit all the GRIN properties that exist in the GRIN property database or create new GRIN properties.

To open the GRIN editor, select Define|Edit Property Data, then select Gradient Index Properties. Instead of opening as a dialog box, the editor opens as a window. You can return to the model window by selecting the model item from the Window menu.

Note: The menu bar displays a different set of options when you are in the editor window. Once you are in the Gradient Index Property Editor window, you can return to the model window by selecting the model item from the Window menu.

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Gradient Index Properties

FIGURE 3.11 - The Gradient Index Property Editor

TABLE 3.8. Fields in the Gradient Index Property EditorInformation and Grid

	Panels
Catalog	Property catalog names.
Name	Gradient Property Name dropdown box. Select the name from the drop down
	list or by typing the name into the text box. If the name is found in the database
	its data is displayed.
Description	The description contains notes about the Gradient Property.
Type	The Type describes the Gradient Index Profile selected when the property was
	defined. See “Gradient Index Profile Polynomials” on page 7.9.
Coefficients	Each Gradient type has an associated set of coefficients corresponding to the
	Profile Polynomial.

Create a New Gradient Index Property

The steps listed below show the method to create a new property within Gradient Index Properties

1.Select Define|Edit Property Data|Gradient Index Properties to open the Gradient Index Property Editor window.

2.Select Add Property.

3.Enter a name for the new property, enter a type or select one from the dropdown box, and enter a value for the initial wavelength.

4.Edit the coefficients in the spreadsheets by selecting a value and typing in a changed value.

5.Select Save from the file menu, or close the Gradient Index Property editor and answer yes to the question “property has changed, save data?”

TracePro 5.0 User’s Manual

3.21

Defining Properties

Edit an Existing Gradient Index Property

The steps listed below show the method to edit an existing property within Gradient Index Properties.

1.Select Define|Edit Property Data|Gradient Index Properties to open the Gradient Index Property Editor window.

2.Select Unlock. You cannot make changes without unlocking the property for editing. Properties supplied with TracePro are Read Only and cannot be edited.

3.Select save from the file menu, or close the Gradient Index Property editor and answer yes to the question “property has changed, save data?”

4.Check the edited property. The updated property is now available in the Gradient Index Property database for future use.

Export a Gradient Index Property

The steps listed below show the method to export an existing property within Gradient Index Properties.

1.Select Define|Edit Property Data|Gradient Index Properties to open the Gradient Index Property Editor window.

2.Choose a gradient index property from the drop-down list.

3.Select File|Export Property to create a text file that contains the information that defines the selected gradient index property. The dialog box prompts you to enter the name and location of the file. For more information about “Gradient Index Property Format”, see page 7.89.

Import a Gradient Index Property

The steps listed below show the method to import an existing property within Gradient Index Properties.

1.Select Define|Edit Property Data|Gradient Index Properties to open the Gradient Index Property Editor window.

2.Select File|Import Property to import a text file (in the proper format) with the definition of a gradient index property. The dialog box prompts you to enter the name and location of the file to import.

3.22	TracePro 5.0 User’s Manual