As fiber and free-space optical communication bandwidths increase, the need for very high speed optical modulators and detectors has also increased. The frequency response characterization of these electrical-to-optical (E/O, modulators sometimes integrated with lasers) and optical-to-electrical (O/E, photo detectors and receivers) converters can be important in terms of such parameters as bandwidth, flatness, phase linearity and group delay. This application note covers some of the...

The key to a successful all-in-one imaging system is the use of embedded systems – especially when it comes to designing a custom proprietary system. This white paper walks you through key elements to consider when designing an embedded vision...

Measuring optical signals in the femtowatt (10-15) to nanowatt (10-9) range can be a daunting task. Signal levels this low are lost in typical detector noise levels and swamped by background light. The noise floor for photodiode detectors operated...

Due to the computationally intensive nature of the FDTD simulation method, improved accuracy and convergence are critical for its practical use as a design algorithm in applications where numerous design variants need to be explored. This white...

Every optical application requires a "clean" optical surface. However, what defines "clean" is subjective and is based on the needs of the application. In addition, there is not a singular low-cost cleaning process that can meet all the demands of...

Measuring in the far-UV (FUV) 120-220 nm presents unique challenges. The high energy that makes UV light interesting can cause photochemical formation of organic films on optical surfaces. These films cause increasing, wavelength-dependent loss of...

Engineers can readily achieve optimal design of silicon photonics devices using rigorous simulation tools to numerically optimize a large number of design parameters. This paper demonstrates how a complex grating coupler design can be efficiently...

Employing aspherical lenses to reduce aberrations to improve focusing qualities is a well-known concept. But the potpourri of aspherical surfaces offers way more possibilities, even the chance for flexible beam shaping setups. Axicons are conical...

Employing aspherical lenses to reduce aberrations to improve focusing qualities is a well-known concept. But the potpourri of aspherical surfaces offers way more possibilities, even the chance for flexible beam shaping setups. Axicons are conical...

Catalog optics are fine for many laser applications but high power lasers require specified damage optical characteristics. The whitepaper explores power resilience of laser optics, working with test laboratories, ISO testing, measuring LIDT, LIDT...

The HELIX Spectral Analysis System was designed to address the limitations of most commercially available spectrophotometers when measuring high-performance thin-film optical filters. The system’s capabilities are four-fold: it is able to track...

Plastic optics in complex optical systems offer many advantages over glass. Designers and manufacturers will gain competitive advantages by using well designed plastic optics in applications well suited for their use. This white paper will discuss...

Companies developing cutting-edge lasers, optics, and imaging products face significant hurdles getting products to market ahead of competitors. Learn about a new way for optical and mechanical engineers to collaborate that’s changing the way...

High-performance, ultra-narrowband interference filters with > 95% transmission, less than 0.1 nm bandwidths, steep edges, a square spectral shape, wide range blocking measured at > OD 8 (-80 dB), uniform coatings, and minimal thermal dependence...

Precision Glass & Optics discusses the challenges of designing optical coatings for shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging. Also discussed are the many advantages that SWIR imaging devices provide.

Freeform surfaces on optical components have become an important design tool for optical designers. Non-rotationally symmetric optical surfaces have made solving complex optical problems easier. Optimax has developed a robust freeform optical...

Modern hard coated optical thin film filters are nearly infinitely flexible in capability. Single band, multiband, dichroic tilted filters are all available with high transmission and excellent blocking. However, due to their complex nature and...

The ideal optical system design minimizes production costs and meets performance requirements using achievable component and assembly tolerances and well-chosen post-assembly adjustments. Optical design software can help make this ideal manufactured...

Optimax has developed a novel optical coating (OTR) that protects optical surfaces in even the most extreme environmental use conditions. OTR coatings have been demonstrated to provide excellent resistance to latent scratching, staining and dimming...

There are some critical steps you should consider when selecting an optical thin-film coating to maximize your optical systems’ performance. Small changes in requirements can often have a significant impact when evaluating performance and cost....

Alluxa’s new class of Infrared (IR) bandpass and dual band filters bring the precision of dielectric filters to the IR between 2 and 5 microns. They are manufactured with an advanced, plasma enhanced PVD process using durable, hard metal-oxide, and...

There has been extensive research to improve the design of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic LEDs (OLEDs) to enhance light extraction efficiency, improve beam shaping, and allow color tuning. Due to the range and scales of geometric...

Welding has long been a key technology for assembling metals parts in various industries. Nowadays with the constant search of quality and productivity, welding has become increasingly sophisticated with the introduction of new processes and the...

How accurate are thermal imaging cameras, and how are they calibrated? Understanding infrared camera accuracy and sensitivity can help clarify the value of well-calibrated thermal imaging cameras. In this paper, we use layman’s terms to explain how...

A white paper from Resolve Optics addresses the commonly asked question "Are off-the-shelf optics always the best solution?". Today there exists a huge number of off-the-shelf lenses for mass market applications where unit cost is the dominant...