ABLSim: A user-friendly wave optics propagation code

ABLSim is a software tool for high fidelity modeling of advanced optical systems such as laser weapons systems and compensated imaging systems. It makes use of a well established modeling approach known as "wave optics", in which optical wavefronts are modeled using two-dimensional meshes of complex numbers. Wave optics is the most powerful approach known for predicting the performance of optical systems in the presence of strong turbulence. ABLSim differs from previous wave optics modeling tools primarily in that it is much easier to use. Historically, wave optics codes been notoriously difficult to use with the result that only a very small number of people - the code authors and a few others - could use the codes effectively ABLSim is designed to make wave optics accessible to a much broader user community. In ABLSim, the user assembles system models in a "connect-the-blocks" visual programming environment, where each block represents a system component such as an optical sensor, a laser source, a mirror or a lens. Each connection represents a specific type of interaction: for example, connections between optical components represent optical interfaces. ABLSim provides a GUI for setting up parameter studies and a Matlab(1) interface for postprocessing.