We propose an approach to deal with the problem of freeform surface illumination design without assuming any symmetry based on the concept that this problem is similar to the problem of optimal mass transport. With this approach, the freeform design is converted into a nonlinear boundary problem for the elliptic Monge-Ampére equation. The theory and numerical method are given for solving this boundary problem. Experimental results show the feasibility of this approach in tackling this freeform design problem.
The Monge-Ampère (MA) equation arising in illumination design is highly nonlinear so that the convergence of the MA method is strongly determined by the initial design. We address the initial design of the MA method in this paper with the L(2)-Kantorovich (LMK) theory. An efficient approach is proposed to find the optimal mapping of the LMK problem. The characteristics of the new approach are introduced and the limitations of the LMK theory in illumination design are presented. Three examples, including the beam shaping of collimated beam and point light source, are given to illustrate the potential benefits of the LMK theory in the initial design. The results show the MA method converges more stably and faster with the application of the LMK theory in the initial design.
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