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λ/10 UV Fused Silica Plano-convex Lenses

  • Made of Corning UV Grade Fused Silica Glass (Corning HPFS), Wavelength range: 200-2200nm
  • Standardized focal lengths and diameters convenient for OEM
  • High precision: λ/10 Irregularities and 10/5 S/D surface qualities
  • Ideal for UV-NIR wavelengths and durable under high temperature
  • Coating options: uncoated, V-coating, or Broadband Anti-reflection (BBAR) coatings.
  • Applications: detectors, imaging systems, lasers, fiber lasers, etc.
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Code Material Diameter CT ET Focal length Irregularity Coating Unit Price Delivery Cart
1102-001 C7980-0F 12.7 4.0 1.4 20mm λ/10 Uncoated $29.0 2~3 Days
1102-002 C7980-0F 12.7 4.0 1.4 20mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-003 C7980-0F 12.7 4.0 1.4 20mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-004 C7980-0F 12.7 4.0 1.4 20mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-006 C7980-0F 12.7 4.0 1.4 20mm λ/10 532nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-005 C7980-0F 12.7 4.0 1.4 20mm λ/10 1064nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-007 C7980 0F 12.7 3.7 2.1 30mm λ/10 Uncoated $29.0 2~3 Days
1102-009 C7980 0F 12.7 3.7 2.1 30mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-010 C7980 0F 12.7 3.7 2.1 30mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-012 C7980 0F 12.7 3.7 2.1 30mm λ/10 532nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-011 C7980 0F 12.7 3.7 2.1 30mm λ/10 1064nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-013 C7980-0F 12.7 2.5 1.4 40mm λ/10 Uncoated $29.0 2~3 Days
1102-014 C7980-0F 12.7 2.5 1.4 40mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-015 C7980-0F 12.7 2.5 1.4 40mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-016 C7980-0F 12.7 2.5 1.4 40mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-018 C7980-0F 12.7 2.5 1.4 40mm λ/10 532nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-017 C7980-0F 12.7 2.5 1.4 40mm λ/10 1064nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-019 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.1 50mm λ/10 Uncoated $29.0 2~3 Days
1102-020 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.1 50mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-021 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.1 50mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-022 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.1 50mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-023 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.1 50mm λ/10 1064nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-024 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.1 50mm λ/10 532nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-031 C7980-0F 25.4 6.0 2.2 50mm λ/10 Uncoated $44.0 2~3 Days
1102-032 C7980-0F 25.4 6.0 2.2 50mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-033 C7980-0F 25.4 6.0 2.2 50mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-034 C7980-0F 25.4 6.0 2.2 50mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-137 C7980-0F 25.4 6.0 2.2 50mm λ/10 343nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-138 C7980-0F 25.4 6.6 2.2 50mm λ/10 355nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-036 C7980-0F 25.4 6.0 2.2 50mm λ/10 532nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-139 C7980-0F 25.4 6.0 2.2 50mm λ/10 1030nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-035 C7980-0F 25.4 6.0 2.2 50mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-037 C7980-0F 25.4 4.5 2.1 75mm λ/10 Uncoated $29.0 2~3 Days
1102-038 C7980-0F 25.4 4.5 2.1 75mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-039 C7980-0F 25.4 4.5 2.1 75mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-040 C7980-0F 25.4 4.5 2.1 75mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-041 C7980-0F 25.4 4.5 2.1 75mm λ/10 1064nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-042 C7980-0F 25.4 4.5 2.1 75mm λ/10 532nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-025 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.6 100mm λ/10 Uncoated $44.0 2~3 Days
1102-026 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.6 100mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-027 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.6 100mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-028 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.6 100mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-029 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.6 100mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-030 C7980-0F 12.7 3.0 2.6 100mm λ/10 532nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-073 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 2.2 100mm λ/10 Uncoated $67.0 2~3 Days
1102-074 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 2.2 100mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-075 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 2.2 100mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-076 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 2.2 100mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-140 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.2 100mm λ/10 343nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-141 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.2 100mm λ/10 355nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-078 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 2.2 100mm λ/10 532nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-142 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.2 100mm λ/10 1030nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-077 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 2.2 100mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-043 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.6 125mm λ/10 Uncoated $44.0 2~3 Days
1102-044 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.6 125mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-045 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.6 125mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-046 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.6 125mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-047 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.6 125mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-048 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.6 125mm λ/10 532nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-049 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.8 150mm λ/10 Uncoated $44.0 2~3 Days
1102-050 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.8 150mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-051 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.8 150mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-052 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.8 150mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-143 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.8 150mm λ/10 343nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-144 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.8 150mm λ/10 355nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-054 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.8 150mm λ/10 532nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-145 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.8 150mm λ/10 1030nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-053 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 2.8 150mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-079 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.1 200mm λ/10 Uncoated $67.0 2~3 Days
1102-080 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.1 200mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-081 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.1 200mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-082 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.1 200mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-146 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.1 200mm λ/10 343nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-147 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.1 200mm λ/10 355nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-084 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.1 200mm λ/10 532nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-148 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.1 200mm λ/10 1030nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-083 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.1 200mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-086 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.4 300mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-087 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.4 300mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-088 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.4 300mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-149 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.4 300mm λ/10 343nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-150 C7980-0F 25.4 4 3.4 300mm λ/10 355nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-090 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.4 300mm λ/10 532nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-151 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.4 300mm λ/10 1030nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-089 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.4 300mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-091 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.6 400mm λ/10 Uncoated $44.0 2~3 Days
1102-092 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.6 400mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-093 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.6 400mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-094 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.6 400mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-152 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 400mm λ/10 343nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-153 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 400nm λ/10 355nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-096 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.6 400mm λ/10 532nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-154 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 400mm λ/10 1030nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-095 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.6 400mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-055 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 500mm λ/10 Uncoated $44.0 2~3 Days
1102-056 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 500mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-057 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 500mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-058 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 500mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-155 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 500mm λ/10 343nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-156 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 500mm λ/10 355nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-060 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 500mm λ/10 532nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-157 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 500mm λ/10 1030nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-059 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.6 500mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-097 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.7 600mm λ/10 Uncoated $44.0 2~3 Days
1102-098 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.7 600mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-099 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.7 600mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-100 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.7 600mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-158 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.7 600mm λ/10 343nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-159 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.7 600mm λ/10 355nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-102 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.7 600mm λ/10 532nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-160 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.7 600mm λ/10 1030nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-101 C7980-1D 25.4 4.0 3.7 600mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-061 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 750mm λ/10 Uncoated $44.0 2~3 Days
1102-062 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 750mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-063 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 750mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-064 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 750mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-065 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 750mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-066 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 750mm λ/10 532nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-161 C7980-0F 25.4 / / 800mm λ/10 3434nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-162 C7980-0F 25.4 / / 800mm λ/10 355nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-163 C7980-0F 25.4 / / 800mm λ/10 532nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-164 C7980-0F 25.4 / / 800mm λ/10 1030nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-165 C7980-0F 25.4 / / 800mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-067 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 1000mm λ/10 Uncoated $67.0 2~3 Days
1102-068 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 1000mm λ/10 400-700nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-069 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 1000mm λ/10 700-1100nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-070 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 1000mm λ/10 1100-1650nm AR $67.0 10 Days
1102-166 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 1000mm λ/10 343nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-167 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 1000mm λ/10 355nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-072 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 1000mm λ/10 532nm AR $44.0 10 Days
1102-168 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 1000mm λ/10 1030nm AR $67.0 1~2 Weeks
1102-071 C7980-0F 25.4 4.0 3.8 1000mm λ/10 1064nm AR $67.0 10 Days
A Plano-Convex (PCX) Lens is an optical element with a positive focal length and a flat-spherical surface profile. The lenses are designed for light focusing, collection, and collimating. A Plano convex lens could also be used to decrease the focal length of a group of optical assemblies and magnify images. Compared to Biconvex lenses,  Plano-convex lenses have two non-identical sides and therefore work best for infinite conjugate ratios (objective distance: image distance). However, plano-convex lenses still reduce spherical aberrations to a quite low extent when the absolute conjugate ratio is greater than 5:1. For a conjugate ratio below 5:1, consider using plano-convex lenses in pair or biconvex lens.

UV Fused Silica is the amorphous form of Silicon Dioxide. The material features superior transmission in the UV region and could be utilized for wavelengths ranging from Ultraviolet (UV) to Near-infrared (NIR) spectrum. Other than UV transmission, UV-grade fused silica glass also excels in terms of low thermal expansion, high optical homogeneities, chemical inertness, mechanical strength, and the absence of fluorescence under UV radiation. Compared with NBK7, the material is more reliable for high-temperature environments and higher transmission to the ultraviolet spectrum. 

Hangzhou Shalom EO offers stocked and custom Plano Convex Lenses made of high-quality UV Fused Silica sourced from Corning, or JGS1 with excellent mechanical ridgidness, and chemical inertia (The lenses in the stock list are made of Corning 7980-0F, 7980-1D). These lenses could be applied for wavelengths ranging from 200-2200nm, and are high-precision lenses with irregularity of λ/10, and surface qualities of 10/5 S/D. The UV-fused silica plano-convex lenses find prominence in detectors, imaging instruments, lasers, fiber lasers, etc.  The focal lengths of the stocked UV Fused Silica plano-convex lenses range from 20-1000mm, while other focal lengths could be customized. Each piece of the lens will undergo strict inspection in Shalom EO’s in-house labs before dispatch, to ensure tight tolerance and secure your interest. Besides, the standard options with irregularities of λ/4-λ are also available.

To further enhance the transmission of the UVFS plano-convex lens, Broadband Anti-reflection (BBAR) coatings could be furnished to accommodate the requirements for multi-wavelength and tunable lasers. V coatings, which are a special form of AR coatings that deliver an ultra-low reflection at a narrow band of designed wavelengths are available, too. These coated lenses are in particular advantageous for elevating the efficiencies of complex optical instruments. Besides, Uncoated UV Fused Silica plano-convex lenses are also accessible in Shalom EO.

Application Notes:
1. Because the refraction angles of the incident lights have a slight difference, the focal length of the two sides is also different. To minimize spherical aberration, engineers from Shalom EO suggest that when using the lens to focus collimated lights, the collimated lights should be projected to the curved surface of the lens; conversely, when using the lens to collimate a point light source, the light source should be incident on the flat surface.
2. Simplified Calculation of Focal Length of a Plano Convex Lens: focal length = R/(n-1), where R is the radius of curvature and n is the refractive index.

Specifications:

Lens Form Plano-convex Lens Material Custom: Corning HPFS glass series, JGS1
Stock:Corning 7980-0F, 7980-1D
Working Wavelength Range 200-2200nm Coating Uncoated, V-coating, BBAR coating
Surface Quality (S/D) 10/5 Irregularity@632.8nm λ/10
Clear Aperture 90% Centering Error ≤2 arc min
Protective Chamfer 0.2mmx45° Diameters 12.7mm, 25.4mm, or custom

Lens Selection Tutorial:

There are various classifications of optical lenses, and either as a user or an engineer, one needs to evaluate the pros and cons of lens classifications in order to optimize the optical system. First, What is a lens? An optical lens is a transparent optical component that converges or diverges light emitted from a peripheral object. The transmitted light then forms a real or virtual image of the object. Optical lenses can be divided into three major categories: convex lenses, and concave lenses. Convex lenses have positive focal length and focus light, whilst concave lenses have negative focal length and expand collimated light beam. Further subdivided, it can be classified into the plano-convex lens, plano-concave lens, double-convex lens, double-concave lens, meniscus lens, ball/half-ball lens, achromatic doublet lens, cylindrical plano-convex lens/plano-concave lens, rod lens, aspheric lens, etc. This article enumerates the different lens classifications, exploring their characteristics, and the appropriate context to use them. 


Focal Length and Conjugate Ratio 

The focal length is the length from the optical center to the point where light parallel light beam converges on the optical axis. A convex lens has a positive focal lens, and a concave lens has a negative focal lens and focuses light into a virtual focal point. The conjugate ratio is defined as the ratio of the object distance (the distance between the object and the lens on the optical axis) and the image distance (the distance between the image and the lens on the optical axis). Light paths from the object to the image are reversible. An object placed at the focal point of a lens results in an infinite conjugate ratio, while an object placed at twice the focal length results in an image formed at twice the focal length, giving a conjugate ratio of 1:1.

Note: You might want to learn more about the basic concepts relevant to lens selection, such as Field of View (FOV), Image Distortion, Spherical Aberration and Coma: Spherical aberrations, etc. see our Lens Selection Tutorial. Or if you are looking for a reference to the selection of the substrate materials, see our Optical Substrate Material Selection Guide.


lens type conjugate ratio

Table1. Lens Types and conjugate ratios

Plano Convex Lens:

Plano-convex (PCX) lens is an optical lens with one plane face and one convex face, and a positive focal length, utilized for collecting, focusing collimated lights, collimating lights from a point source, or reducing the focal length of a lens group. Compared to Biconvex lenses,  Plano-convex lenses have two unidentical sides and therefore work best for an infinite absolute conjugate ratio (objective distance: image distance). However, plano-convex lenses still reduce spherical aberrations to a quite low extent when the absolute conjugate ratio is greater than 5:1. For conjugate ratio below 5:1, consider using plano-convex lenses in pairs or a biconvex lens. Plano-convex lenses are mainly used for monochromatic light, such as lasers; Plano-convex lens is often used to converge parallel light or convert point light sources into parallel light. when using the lens to focus collimated lights, the collimated lights should be projected to the curved surface of the lens. 


plano convex lens


Plano Concave Lens:

plano-concave lens is a lens with one side flat and a concave side. A plano-concave lens has a negative focal length, which diverges the beam. Therefore, it can be utilized in to expand the beam, project light and lengthen the focal length of the optical system. Plano-concave lenses are often incorporated into Galilean beam expanders, also as components to increase the focal length of an optical instrument, or balance out the spherical aberration, improving image qualities. When the absolute conjugate ratio is greater than 5:1 (that is, the absolute value of objective distance: image distance), a plano-concave lens is the best type of negative lens to decrease spherical aberration, coma, and distortion. When applied to diverge a collimated light beam, the curved surface should face the light source (Or in other words, the flat side should point to the focal plane you intend to modulate) so that light bends gradually and spherical aberration is reduced to the greatest extent. 

plano concave lens


Biconvex Lens:

A Biconvex Lens, also known as a Double Convex Lens, is an optical lens with two spherical sides that have the same curvature radii. The major uses of  Biconvex lenses include laser beam modulation, light focus, and imaging. Biconvex lenses have positive focal lengths and converge collimated light to a point. When the absolute finite conjugate ratio is equal to or near 1:1, biconvex lenses are advised. When the object distance and image distance are equivalent in absolute terms, biconvex lenses are the best option for conjugate ratios between 1:5 and 5:1. If not, plano-convex lenses are preferable since their asymmetric shapes help to reduce spherical aberrations. The focal lengths of the biconvex lenses could be calculated using the formula: f= (R1*R2)/((n-1)*(R2-R1)). Their curvatures on both sides are equal and are often used to gather light from a point source or transmit images to other optical systems. Since the object distance and the image distance are equivalent or approximately equivalent, distortion can be minimized.


biconvex lens diagram


Biconcave Lens:

A Biconcave Lens or Double Concave Lens are optical lens with two inward-bent spherical surfaces of identical radii of curvature. A double concave lens has a negative focal length and diverges a collimated light beam to the virtual focal point (that is the point at which the extension lines of the diverging light path intersect at the object side of the concave lens) and increases the focal lengths of a lens group. The usages of Biconcave lenses are diversified, encompassing divergence of collimated or focused light beams, and beam diameter modulation (e.g. Galilean beam expanders), and because of their negative focal lengths, bi-concave lenses could also be applied in the correction of spherical aberration of optical assemblies. Due to its symmetric structure, a double concave lens works best when the conjugate ratio (object distance: image distance) is close or equal to 1:1. In such situations, the distortion, spherical/chromatic aberration, and coma could be offset as a result of the equilibrium of the lenses. Whilst, when the intended magnification ratio is <1/5 or >5, a plano concave lens will be a better alternative.


biconcave lens diagram


Meniscus Lens:

A Meniscus Lens or a Convex-concave Lens is an optical lens consisting of one concave and one convex side, and the two sides have different radii of curvature according to which the meniscus lenses could be categorized into two kinds: positive meniscus lenses and negative meniscus lenses. A Positive Meniscus Lens is more curved on the convex side than on the concave side, and its edge thickness is greater than its central thickness, contributing to a positive focal length. In contrast, a Negative Meniscus Lens is more curved on the concave side than on the convex side, and its central thickness is greater than its edge thickness, contributing to a negative focal length. Positive Meniscus Lenses converge light is utilized to reduce the focal length when used in conjunction with other lenses and increase the numerical aperture (NA) of existing optical modules without introducing significant spherical aberration. These functions are quite useful for image instruments to increase the resolution, and for focusing lasers to shrink the spot diameter when the incident beam width is rather large, providing diffraction-limited performance and better precision for laser processing. A negative meniscus lens diverges light and functions in just the opposite manner as a positive meniscus lens, to increase the focal length, reduce the NA of the optical assemblies, and expand beams. The meniscus lens is often hired as a corrective lens, and can also be used as a beam condenser of an illumination system. In addition, meniscus lenses with appropriate thicknesses can also eliminate chromatic aberration.


meniscus lens


Achromatic Doublet Lens:

An Achromatic Doublet Lens is a bulk optical element, often consisting of two cemented concave and convex single lenses made from different optical glass materials of compensating dispersion properties. Achromatic doublet lens has the distinctive feature of inducing minimizing chromatic aberration in an optical module (Chromatic aberration is the shift of refractive indices resulting from different wavelengths when the incident light source consists of multi-colored radiations, the consequence is blurring of spots on the focal plane). It is also possible to correct the spherical and on-axis comatic aberration using achromatic doublet lenses.


achromatic doublet lens alt=


Plano Convex/concave Cylindrical Lens:

Plano Convex/concave Cylindrical Lens is, in essence, a cuboid with an outward extending/inward curved structure, and thus a positive effective length. The fundamental function of the plano-convex cylindrical lens is to condense/diverge a matrix of laser beams and modulate the aspect ratio of the image. As a plate version of a plano-convex/concave lens, a plano-convex/concave cylindrical lens performs better at infinite conjugate ratios (here we refer to the absolute value, and the value becomes disadvantageous when below 5:1). What discriminates a plate PCX/PCV and a cylindrical PCX/PCV is that the former diverges lights in two dimensions, the later expands light beam in one.


The prior nature of plano-convex/concave cylindrical lenses, which is making a two-dimensional light beam becomes a linear laser line, can be leveraged in diversified applications like the coupling of a slit input of laser diodes, changing the aspect ratio of an image, laser scanners, dye lasers, spectroscopies, and receivers of energies in linear detectors. A plano-convex/concave lens can either modulate the aspect ratio of an image or create a line image from the point light beam source. A PCX cylindrical lens is also often hired to collect collimated light beams to generate a thin line.


Another crucial application of plano-convex/concave cylindrical lens is anamorphic beam shaping, which just refers to correcting the elliptical-shaped laser beam generated from a laser diode into a circular-shaped one. The elliptical laser beam is the consequence of a rectangular Fresnel aperture and is undesirable because this implies a larger beam area which wastes more power, fewer homogeneities, and a terrible Gaussian Beam Profile. A pair of plano convex/concave cylindrical lenses could be used to circularize the elliptical beams. During the test, a pair of plano-convex/concave cylindrical lenses are positioned so that lenses are orthogonal as shown in the figure. From the result, we can conclude that using a pair of plano-convex/concave cylindrical lenses to circularize the elliptical beam is a high-transmission, balance-shape, astigmatism-attenuated approach.


plano convex cylindrical lens  plano concave cylindrical lens


Ball and Half Ball Lenses :

Ball Lenses are a special form of biconvex lenses which inherit the geometry of a ball (which implies completely spherical surfaces), manufactured from a single material with the optical transmission sited in the wavelength region of interest. The predominant function of ball lenses is light collimation/coupling for optical fibers (e.g. laser to fiber coupling, fiber to fiber coupling), with other versatile possibilities to be incorporated in miniature optics (e.g. Barcode Scanning, Sensors, or as objective lenses, etc.). Ball Lenses could also be considered as pre-forms aspheric lenses. One advantage of a ball lens is its short  Back Focal Length (BFL), a trait that cuts down the distance from the optic to the fiber and is exceptionally useful when the installation space is rather tight, and compact dimension could simultaneously reduce the production cost. Additionally, a ball lens is rotationally symmetric, which enhances the ease of aligning and positioning.


Half-Ball Lenses are variants of ball lenses, obtained through simply cutting the ball lenses in half. Due to the ease of mounting brought by the one flat surface, half ball lenses are ideal for applications where more compact designs are required.


ball lens  half ball lens


Rod Lenses:

Rod Lenses are optical lenses in the form of a round rod and focus collimated beams into one dimension. Light is transferred against the circumference of the lens, therefore the circumferences of the rod lenses are precision polished, whilst the two flat ends are irrelevant to optical processing, but could be ground also. The uses of rod lenses include collimation of divergent light, linear focusing, and image inversion lenses between the objective and the ocular lenses in a rigid endoscope (An medical instrument to observe inside human bodies). A rod lens could also be utilized as a light pipe (An optical component that transfers light between the flat ends using total inter reflection.)



Aspheric Lens:

Aspheric Lens is an optical lens with the geometries of a non-spherical optical front (that is, the radius of curvature varies with the distance from the optical axis). The unique feature of an aspheric lens is the minimized spherical aberrations. Spherical aberrations intrinsic in spherical lenses, due to differences in the optical paths, the focal points of lights closer to the optical axis tend to be more forward than that of the lights incident at the edges of the spherical lenses, resulting in blurring of the image and increasing spot width. Compared with spherical lenses, Aspheric lenses exhibit spherical aberrations reduced to a dramatic extent, leading to enhanced image resolution, and spot diameters that are several orders less than the spot diameter of spherical lenses. An aspheric lens allows a larger numerical aperture (low f-number) and therefore increases the light throughput, achieving higher power efficiencies. Incorporation of aspheric lenses into lens modules also could help to reduce the element number with the exemption of excessive optics for correction of spherical aberrations, enabling compact and simplified design.

aspheric lens


Axicons:

An Axicon or a Conical Lens is an optical lens with a conical side and flat side, it is defined by its base angles (referred to as the physical angles) and its apex angle. The working principle of an axicon is that it uses interference to create a focal line along the optical axis. Axicons could be utilized to generate an approximation of a diffraction-free Bessel beam, which is a beam consisting of a series of concentric rings having equal power through transforming collimated Gaussian beam in the near field. Although a Bessel beam does not exist in real life because it would require infinite energy to create, axicons offer a good analog by maintaining the non-diffractive Bessel beam properties over a distance much longer than a similar Gaussian beam. A plano-convex axicon could also be used to convert laser light into an annular shape by taking the projection in the far field, and the ring’s thickness will be 1/2 of the incident laser beam’s diameter. 



C7980-0F Plano-convex D=12.7 F=20 1064nm Coated Lenses

C7980-0F Plano-convex D=12.7 F=20 1064nm Coated Lenses

C7980-0F Plano-convex D=25.4 F=750 400-700nm Coated Lenses

C7980-0F Plano-convex D=25.4 F=750 400-700nm Coated Lenses

Dia25.4mm EFL800mm UV Fused Silica Plano Convex Lens 1064nm AR Coated

Dia25.4mm EFL800mm UV Fused Silica Plano Convex Lens 1064nm AR Coated