High transmission efficiency and low wavefront distortion makes these precision achromatic lenses useful for a number of applications involving visible or laser light
A new series of high performance achromatic lenses from Newport feature high transmission efficiency and low wavefront distortion.
Specifically, the new Precision Achromatic Doublet lens (Pac) series delivers a per surface reflectivity of just 0.5% throughout the visible spectrum, with a surface irregularity of l/8 or better.
This combination of high throughput and low wavefront distortion makes these precision lenses useful for a very wide range of applications using broadband visible light, as well as numerous laser beam manipulation tasks.
Typical uses include visible imaging, especially in the life and health sciences, where the increased transmission yields brighter images with superior contrast.
These achromats are also said to be a better choice than singlet lenses in laser focusing applications, because their high correction for spherical aberration results in smaller spot sizes and their larger field of view facilitates alignment.
The Pac series includes lens focal lengths from 12.7mm to 750mm, in standard diameters of 6.35mm, 12.7mm, 25.4mm, 38.1mm, 50.8mm and 76.2mm; focal length tolerance is just +/-2%. A 40-20 scratch-dig, together with the low surface reflectivity, make these lenses an ideal choice for uses where scattered light (and hence contrast) is a key consideration.
