Optical Components Definitions
(click on a component name to submit a quote)
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Lens |
A transparent optical component consisting of one or more pieces of optical glass with curved surfaces, so that they serve to converge or diverge the transmitted rays from an object, thus forming a real or virtual image of that object.
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Achromatic Lens |
A lens consisting of two or more elements, usually of crown and flint glass, that has been corrected for chromatic aberration with respect to two selected wavelengths.
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Cylindrical Lens |
A lens having at least one surface that is formed like a portion of a cylinder. Cylindrical lenses image a point source as a line. They have magnification in only one plane; therefore they can change the height of an image without changing the width, or vice versa.
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Beamsplitter
Non-polarizing
Polarizing
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An optical device for dividing a beam into two or more separate beams. A simple beamsplitter may be a very thin sheet of glass inserted in the beam at an angle to divert a portion of the beam in a different direction. A more sophisticated type consists of two right-angle prisms cemented together at their hypotenuse faces.
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Mirror
Flat
Laser
Spherical
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A smooth, highly polished surface, for reflecting light, that may be plane or curved. The actual reflecting surface is usually a thin coating of silver or aluminum on glass.
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Prism |
A transparent optical element having at least two polished plane faces inclined relative to each other, from which light is reflected or through which light is refracted.
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Window |
A piece of glass with plane parallel surfaces used to admit light into an optical system and to exclude dirt and moisture.
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Optical Filter
Color Glass
Interference
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A device with characteristics of selective transmittance, capable of passing a certain part of the electromagnetic spectrum while being opaque to the other portions.
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