Anti-reflection (AR) coatings are applied to optical components to increase throughput and reduce hazards caused by back-reflections.

Laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) denotes the maximum laser fluence an optical component can withstand with an acceptable amount of risk.

This comparison of the performance of aspheric, achromatic, and spherical PCX lenses in different situations reveals the ideal use cases for each type of lens.

Learn all about the benefits of aspheres, their unique anatomy, how they're manufactured, and how to choose the right one for your system.

Optical coatings are used to influence the transmission, reflection, or polarization properties of an optical component.

Join Andrew Fisher, Manufacturing R&D Engineer at Edmund Optics, as he discusses some tips for modifying stock optical components to fit your application's needs.

Computer Generated Hologram metrology provides a new solution for overcoming traditional asphere metrology. Learn more about CGH metrology at Edmund Optics.

Time to Replace Spherical Elements with Aspheric Lenses

An understanding of refraction and basic ray optics is a critical foundation for understanding more complicated optical concepts and technologies.

Learn how the shape factor of an aspheric lens effects its performance and when certain shape factors are the most advantageous.

Aspheric lens drawings following the ISO 10110 standard are critical tools for communicating manufacturing and testing requirements for the lenses.

The Strehl ratio of an optical system is a comparison of its real performance with its diffraction-limited performance.

What is an aspheric lens? In what applications are aspheric lenses used?

Edmund Optics® manufactures thousands of precision aspheric lenses per month in our asphere manufacturing cell that operates 24 hours a day.

No, advances in subaperture polishing have allowed for the fabrication of aspheres with surface figure error down to λ/20 (0.25µm). However, MRF is still...

The CNC polishing equipment used to fabricate the optics must have a large enough range of motion to properly polish the full asphere, and the weight of the...

CNC polished aspheric lenses offer high numerical apertures while creating diffraction-limited spot sizes and are ideal for high-precision applications.

Deviations in surface form relative to an ideal shape at higher spatial frequencies than Zernike polynomial aberrations but lower frequencies than roughness.

Lightweight, cost-effective aspheric lenses with a lower scratch resistance and thermal stability than molded glass aspheres.

Meta description: Ideal for volume applications, including laser diode collimation, bar code scanners, and optical data storage. Can be molded into diameters as small as 1mm.

Edmund Optics® (EO) manufactures millions of precision optical components and subassemblies every year in our 5 global manufacturing facilities.

Learn about the metrology that Edmund Optics® uses to guarantee the quality of all optical components and assemblies.

Cinema lenses designed to create content tailored for online streaming utilize aspheres to shoot with a shallow depth of field while maintaining quality.

Polarization Directed Flat Lenses, which are formed with polymerized liquid crystal thin-film, create a focal length that is dependent on polarization state.

Free-space optical (FSO) communications wirelessly transmit data through the air using lasers. FSO promises to revolutionize broadband internet access.

Aspherized Achromatic Lenses, exclusive to Edmund Optics, are doublet lenses consisting of two cemented optical elements that are matched for their color-correction ability and small RMS spot size.

Join Andrew Fisher, Manufacturing R&D Engineer at Edmund Optics, as he discusses some tips for modifying stock optical components to fit your application's needs.

Understanding the most commonly used laser optics materials will allow for easy navigation of EO’s wide selection of laser optics components.

The diameter of a laser highly affects an optic’s laser induced damage (LIDT) as beam diameter directly impacts the probability of laser damage.

Increasing the diameter of optical components reduces power or energy density in a system, reducing the likelihood of laser-induced damage in high-power...

Overspecifying optical losses in laser systems will not further improve your performance or reliability, but it could cost you additional money and/or time.

Free-space optical (FSO) communications transmit information wirelessly through the air using lasers with improved bandwidth. Learn more!

Want an inside look at Aspherized Achromatic Lenses? Learn about the advantages, composition, and aspherized process at Edmund Optics.

The diffraction pattern caused when light passes through an aperture is called the Airy Disk. Find out how the Airy Disk can impact your image at Edmund Optics.

When doing basic imaging, how do you determine the magnification an optical lens will provide?

Collimated light occurs when light rays travel parallel to each other.

Although a common misconception, individual optical lenses do not always form an image when the object plane is placed a focal length away from the lens.

Laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) of optics is a statistical value influenced by defect density, the testing method, and fluctuations in the laser.

The surface quality of optical components the scattering off of its surface, which is especially important in laser optics applications.

Not all optical components are tested for laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) and testing methods differ, resulting in different types of LIDT specifications.

Learn the key parameters that must be considered to ensure you laser application is successful. Common terminology will be established for these parameters.

Testing laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) is not standardized, so understanding how your optics were tested is critical for predicting performance.

Metrology is critical for ensuring that optical components consistently meet their desired specifications, especially in laser applications.

Understanding the polarization of laser light is critical for many applications, as polarization impacts reflectance, focusing the beam, and other key behaviors.

The Laser Optics Lab video series discusses laser optics concepts including specifications, coating technologies, product types, and more

The Laser Optics Lab video series discusses laser optics concepts including specifications, coating technologies, product types, and more

Back reflections are created when some or part of your beam are reflected back to the source.

Optical coatings are composed of thin-film layers used to enhance transmission or reflection properties within an optical system.

When determining which laser to use for your application, consider the following specifications: wavelength, coherence length, beam divergence, and Rayleigh range.

Join our discussion around laser damage testing in the third episode of our LIGHT TALKS series.

Learn about trends in laser applications including increasing powers and decreasing pulse durations in this conversation with Kasia Sieluzycka and Nick Smith.

From tattoo removal to diagnosing cancer, lasers can transform our lives in countless ways. Join our conversation about laser in skin care and diagnostics.

Learn how to assemble, align, and use a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer completely out of off-the-shelf products from Edmund Optics in this detailed guide.

The Future Depends on Optics®