# \[ANN\] BeamletOptics.jl
**URL:** https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-beamletoptics-jl/131912
**Category:** Package Announcements
**Tags:** announcement, physics, optics
**Created:** [August 28, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-beamletoptics-jl/131912 "2025-08-28T13:45:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@StackEnjoyer](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/StackEnjoyer)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-beamletoptics-jl/131912/1 "2025-08-28T13:45:33Z")
Dear all,
we are happy to announce [BeamletOptics.jl](https://github.com/JuliaPhysics/BeamletOptics.jl) (or BMO for short), a newly registered Julia package for simulating optical (breadboard) systems. BMO is intended to be a simplistic simulation environment for people that primarily build laser-based laboratory optical setups. For more information, refer to the [documentation.](https://juliaphysics.github.io/BeamletOptics.jl/stable/)
## Features
While the development of BMO is a ongoing process and we consider it to be in an alpha-state (v0.10.2 as of this post), the following capabilities are currently available and work to a standard where we feel comfortable to request feedback:
- Hybrid sequential and non-sequential 3D ray tracing without paraxial approximation
- TEM₀₀ Gaussian beamlet model
- Various premade optical components
- Mirrors
- Lenses
- Beamsplitters
- Detectors
- Surface-like modeling of rotationally symmetrical lens systems
- Extendable API design for the implementation of custom optical interactions
- Easy visualization via the [Makie](https://github.com/MakieOrg/Makie.jl) package
Similar packages within the Julia ecosystem are listed [here.](https://juliaphysics.github.io/BeamletOptics.jl/stable/#Similar-packages)
## Showcase
For a showcase of “practical applications” refer to the [Michelson interferometer tutorial](https://juliaphysics.github.io/BeamletOptics.jl/stable/tutorials/michelson/) or the [master’s thesis of A. Manny.](https://elib.dlr.de/211867/)
## Way forward
The primary motivation for the existence of BMO is the kinematic simulation of laser interferometer setups. Refer to the [Development roadmap](https://juliaphysics.github.io/BeamletOptics.jl/stable/#Development-roadmap) for a rough outline on where we want to take this package. Since this is a pre-1.0 release, expect the API to break in future releases.
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### Author:  [@brianguenter](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/brianguenter)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2025, 2:10am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-beamletoptics-jl/131912/2 "2025-08-31T02:10:31Z")
I’ve been working on adding Gaussian beamlets and polarization to OpticSim for a while. Perhaps we could work together. Ping me if you are interested, or just if you want to discuss the technical issues of simulating beamlets and polarization.
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### Author:  [@StackEnjoyer](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/StackEnjoyer)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2026, 12:44pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-beamletoptics-jl/131912/3 "2026-05-26T12:44:44Z")
# v0.13 release: what’s new
Since the v0.10.2 release we have been busy fixing bugs and introducing new features. With the help of a major patch by @Hawkes we have now finally implemented the full astigmatic beamlet formalism. This is a major step on the way to trace arbitrary electrical fields via wavefront decomposition.
You can check out the details here: [Astigmatic Gaussian](https://juliaphysics.github.io/BeamletOptics.jl/stable/basics/beams/astigmatic_beam/)
Some preliminary wavefronts are available as well: [Astigmatic Beam Groups](https://juliaphysics.github.io/BeamletOptics.jl/stable/basics/beams/beam_groups/#Astigmatic-Beam-Groups)
Additional changes since v0.10.2 include the unification of the `Detector` interface and an API section in the docs for developers.
# JuliaCon 2026
If you are interested in this package, make sure to check out the talk at JCON this year:
[Modeling optical setups with BeamletOptics.jl :: JuliaCon 2026 :: pretalx](https://pretalx.com/juliacon-2026/talk/KXDFUJ/)
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### Author:  [@StackEnjoyer](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/StackEnjoyer)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-beamletoptics-jl/131912/4 "2026-09-14T15:31:11Z")
# v0.13.1 release: what’s new
This minor release has added a new tutorial based on the OpenRaman spectroscopy setup, in addition to some bug fixes. It is a comprehensive guide to follow the showcase presented at JuliaCon 2026.
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### Author:  [@langestefan](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/langestefan)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-beamletoptics-jl/131912/5 "2026-09-14T16:07:10Z")
great visualization. Is that using Makie.jl?
I am curious what it would look like if you included ray tracing? [https://makie.org/website/blogposts/raytracing/](https://makie.org/website/blogposts/raytracing/)
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### Author:  [@StackEnjoyer](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/StackEnjoyer)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-beamletoptics-jl/131912/6 "2026-09-14T16:16:33Z")
All of our illustrations are generated using either GLMakie or CairoMakie.
Personally, I have not played around with the new Makie backends yet, but I am looking forward to the next feature releases.
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### Author:  [@StackEnjoyer](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/StackEnjoyer)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2026, 11:10am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-beamletoptics-jl/131912/7 "2026-09-18T11:10:41Z")
# v0.13.4 release: what’s new
We have added some additional features and components to the current modeling capabilities since v0.13.1. This will be one of the last feature updates before we focus on a major (breaking) overhaul of the core API.
## Updates
- new polarization state visualization tools
- support for polarized point spread functions
- new out-of-the-box components (Triplet, (off-axis) parabolic mirror, linear polarization filter)
- upgraded the docs to use the [DocumenterVitepress.jl](https://github.com/LuxDL/DocumenterVitepress.jl) backend
- more doc illustrations
- some bug fixes
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### Author:  [@StackEnjoyer](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/StackEnjoyer)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-beamletoptics-jl/131912/8 "2026-09-22T17:27:18Z")
# v0.13.5 release: what’s new
We have added additional SDFs to model a variety of conic mirrors. This has enabled the implementation of (on- and off-axis) ellipsoidal, hyperbolic and parabolic mirrors used e.g. in telescopes.
## Updates
- new mirror sdfs and constructors
- fixed bugs in `align3d` and ray-marching
- more doc illustrations
- switched to pkg workspaces
P.S: shoutout to the [Makie](https://docs.makie.org/stable/) team for building a great visualization library!