Aspheres for Visible and IR

Research Electro-Optics Inc. (REO)

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Research Electro-Optics Inc. (REO) has introduced a range of high-performance aspheric lenses fabricated from CaF2, ZnSe and ZnS substrates. The lenses offer a combination of benefits for demanding applications that require broadband or multispectral operation from the visible through the infrared, such as military rangefinding and target designation.

Benefits include high surface accuracy of ~λ/4 at 633 nm to achieve small focused spot sizes, low surface roughness of 40 to 50 Å rms for minimal scatter and loss, and sophisticated, multilayer thin-film coatings. The coatings offer multispectral performance and a high laser damage threshold and are produced with a densified structure to yield good environmental stability. These features can be maintained even with unusually thin lens profiles, so the aspheres can deliver important weight advantages for portable, field and airborne applications.

They are produced via single-point diamond turning technology that enables highly accurate reproduction of virtually any rotationally symmetric aspheric shape. The company also can employ diamond turning to create a surface diffractive phase profile, enabling more sophisticated functionality, such as achromatization of single-element lenses. It also can machine lenses to yield both centered and off-center through holes or to achieve shapes other than circular.

The lenses are fabricated and coated in high volume on a custom basis. Small prototype batches can be ordered for evaluation and development purposes. Typical diameters for these components range from 6.35 to 203.2 mm, depending upon the substrate material.

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Published: August 2010