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Lens Shape
CVI Laser Optics offers four lens types for converging or
focusing light. A bi-convex lens is the classic symmetric
lens, possessing two convex surfaces of equal radii.
Bi-convex lenses have positive focal lengths and form
both real and virtual images. It is the best singlet lens
for imaging at unit magnification; spherical aberration
is minimized, and coma, distortion, and transverse
chromatic aberration exactly cancel each other out for a
perfectly made lens (longitudinal chromatic aberration
is not corrected). This is true regardless of the material
used or wavelength, although use of a remote stop can
reduce the degree of cancellation. Aberrations increase as
conjugate ratios (object distance/image distance) depart
from unity. Bi-convex lenses can also be used for focusing
applications, in particular when a lower f-number ( /CA) is
required, even if they do not have the best shape for this
conjugation. They are recommended for virtual imaging
of real objects and for positive conjugate image ratios
from approximately 0.2 to 5 (note that these values are
wavelength sensitive).
Away from unity, the singlet lens shape that best minimizes
spherical aberration at a given conjugate ratio is called
a bestform lens, in which the two convex sides are of
different radii. The marginal rays are equally refracted
at each of the lens/air interfaces for this shape, and
surface-reflection loss is minimized. Another benefit
is that absolute coma is nearly minimized for bestform
shape, at both infinite and unit conjugate ratios. It does
Lens Materials
Aside from lens shape, the material a lens is made from
has the greatest impact on its performance. Not only does
it determine the transmission properties, refractive index,
laser damage threshold, thermal coefficient, durability and
weight, but it also impacts cost. It even imposes practical
limits on manufacturing tolerances, especially surface
cosmetic quality. CVI Laser Optics utilizes six different
materials to manufacture our catalog singlet lenses, but
other materials such as magnesium fluoride, sapphire,
germanium, and Suprasil are available on a custom basis.
We can also manufacture many of our lenses with custom
dimensions and focal lengths.
Lens Quality
Once the lens shape and material has been selected, the
next step is to determine the lens quality required. This
will depend on the application and performance needed,
but factors to consider include laser damage threshold,
degree of scatter, surface figure, and focal length
tolerance.
Standard lenses possess a surface irregularity of /4 to
/2 before coating, and are manufactured to a minimum
surface quality of 60-40 to 40-20 scratch and dig,
depending on material. They are an economical solution
for many applications, but lower surface accuracy impacts
resolution, and laser damage threshold is not as high.
Selection Guide: