Stray light calculation methods with optical ray trace software

Faster, better, and cheaper computers make it seem as if any optical calculation can be performed. However, in most cases brute force stray light calculations are still impossible. This paper discusses why this is so, and why it is unlikely to change in the near future. Standard software techniques for solving this problem are then presented, along with a discussion of how old techniques are used to take advantage of the new features that are available in the latest generation of optical analysis software.