Rigorous microlens design using vector electromagnetic method combined with simulated annealing optimization

Field-stitching boundary element method for accurate and rapid vectorial diffraction analysis of large-sized one-dimensional diffractive optical elements

We propose a field-stitching boundary element method (FSBEM) for diffraction analyses for large diffractive optical elements (DOEs). A field stitching (FS) method separately computes the divided sections of a large DOE and provides the field distribution without field mismatching. However, a divided section must be largely overlapped, which is not efficient in terms of computational resources. In the FSBEM, in addition to spatial division, the electromagnetic field is computed for each component-the reflected, difference, and stitching fields-for rapid convergence of the solution. We validate the FSBEM by computing a one-dimensional DOE and evaluating the convergence property. The sample structure is also computed by the conventional FS method, and the advantages of the FSBEM are discussed.

New design model for high efficiency cylindrical diffractive microlenses

A new model, i.e., the decreasing thickness model (DTM) is proposed and employed for designing the cylindrical diffractive microlenses (CDMs). Focal performances of the designed CDMs are theoretically investigated by solving Maxwell’s equations with the boundary element method. For comparison, the CDMs designed by the traditional equal thickness model (ETM) are also studied. Theoretical simulations demonstrate that focal performances of the designed CDMs are improved a lot via replacing the traditional ETM with the proposed DTM. Concretely, the focal efficiency is heightened and the focal spot size is shrunk. Experimental measurements verify the theoretical simulations well. Especially, the above-mentioned improvements become more prominent for the CDM with a higher numerical aperture.

Simulated annealing molecular dynamics and ligand-receptor contacts analysis for pharmacophore modeling

AIM

Ligand-based pharmacophore modeling requires long list of inhibitors, while pharmacophores based on single ligand-receptor crystallographic structure can be too restricted or promiscuous.

METHODOLOGY

This prompted us to combine simulated annealing molecular dynamics (SAMD) with ligand-receptor contacts analysis as means to construct pharmacophore model(s) from single ligand-receptor complex. Ligand-receptor contacts that survive numerous heating-cooling SAMD cycles are considered critical and are used to guide pharmacophore development.

RESULTS

This methodology was implemented to develop pharmacophores for acetylcholinesterase and protein kinase C-θ. The resulting models were validated by receiver-operating characteristic analysis and in vitro bioassay. Assay identified four new protein kinase C-θ inhibitors among captured hits, two of which exhibited nanomolar potencies.

CONCLUSION

The results illustrate the ability of the new method to extract valid pharmacophores from single ligand-protein complex.