Precision Optical Coatings
Friday, 23 December, 2016
Beamsplitters: Cube or plate?
Friday, 23 December, 2016
While a plano-convex spherical lens focuses to a spot, a plano-convex cylindrical lens focuses to a line. In one cross-section it is drawn with two parallel lines, just like a window, and it does no focusing along this axis. In the orthogonal axis it is drawn just like a plano-convex spherical lens and it focuses light along this axis.
Plano-convex cylindrical lenses can be used to correct astigmatism in a system, to re-shape beams from elliptical to circular, and more. Two such lenses, when rotated with respect to each other, can create variable amounts of astigmatism and focal power. In combination with a plano-concave cylindrical lens, very sharp focused lines can be produced among other useful effects. To help the user orient the axis, they are usually produced as squares or rectangles but can be edged round if desired. Tower offers precision cylindrical lenses in a broad range of focal lengths and dimensions.
Since plano-convex cylindrical lenses can condense light in a single dimension, they can be used to generate a thin line of light in laser scanners or in order to pump dye lasers. These cylindrical lenses are also used in optical computing. These lenses are very useful in applications where one needs to generate line sources of light.
Unlike the plano-convex lenses, plano-concave lenses will diverge or expand in a single dimension. That is why they are used as laser line generators. There are applications where plano concave and plano convex cylindrical lenses will be used together. For example, anamorphic lenses, which are used in the film industry, utilize both types of cylindrical lenses.
It is always important to check the lens quality before you buy plano convex cylindrical lenses. The quality will depend on the application and performance that is required. Some of the critical factors to consider when buying plano convex cylindrical lenses are the laser damage threshold and lens wedge. It is also important to check the focal length tolerance and degree of scatter before buying cylindrical lenses.
Tower produces high end cylindrical lenses which are very economical. The lenses are available with different types or coating. Tower has visible or near infrared lens coatings. Uncoated lenses are also in stock. The cylindrical lenses are designed using the best control equipment in order to offer excellent performance. High surface accuracy should be maintained throughout the manufacturing process to ensure that the lenses can be used for performance-critical tasks. Even in those applications where the surface accuracy and lens wedge is not of great concern, the lenses should still be made to offer the very best performance. Please contact us.
