Request InfoSpecial Optics Inc.Special Optics makes high-quality, diffraction-limited optical systems. Since we design, manufacture and assemble the optical systems ourselves, we provide tight coordination between design and manufacturing tolerances and requirements, assuring that the final system performance matches the initial design goals. In addition to our extensive catalog product lines, we work with customers to develop new systems to meet their specific needs. If you have a challenging design and want to see it quickly turned into a successful prototype or product, contact Special Optics.See full productRelated content from Photonics MediaPRODUCTSPhotonics.com 2/6/2024VCSEL Illumination ModuleThe illumination module platform from Coherent can be used for short- and mid-range lidar in automotive safety and robotic vision in industrial applications. Using eight 940-nm VCSEL modules, the...Photonics.com 5/26/2022Digital Pyroelectric DetectorsTwo-channel LID-2322 digital pyroelectric detectors from InfraTec GmbH feature a TO39 housing for gas analysis devices. With a small, compact housing and battery power, they can be used for...Photonics Spectra October 2023 IssueFiber-coupled LED SourcesNewDEL™ fiber-coupled LED sources from LumeDEL LLC offer high brightness from the deep-UV to NIR for medical, biotech, and industrial applications. The devices are replacements for lasers...Photonics.com 1/10/2024Laser Cutting MachinesThe OPTIPLEX 3015 NEO and OPTIPLEX 4220 NEO from Mazak Optonics are laser cutting machines equipped with technology that allows increased control of beam shape and beam diameter. Using a 2D fiber...ARTICLESPhotonics.com 8/15/2022SPIE Optics + Photonics to Host Cutting-Edge Technologies, Promote Industry DialogueA program featuring over 2000 presentations and spanning five days awaits SPIE Optics + Photonics 2022 attendees. The multidisciplinary optical sciences and technology meeting will be held at the San...Photonics Spectra May 2022 IssueCLEO Returns to San Jose, Offers Virtual AttendanceThe Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2022, will be held at California’s San Jose McEnery Convention Center May 15-20. The event will feature more than 2000 technical sessions, an...Photonics Spectra September 2023 IssueUltrashort-Pulsed Lasers Ramp Up the PowerIf lasers helped to redefine many manufacturing operations, then ultrashort-pulsed (USP) lasers promise to revolutionize them. They can process almost any material, and they can do so with a...Photonics Spectra November 2023 IssueUnderwater Laser Cutting Method Optimizes EfficiencyThe need for modern technologies to dismantle existing underwater infrastructure is growing due to increasing demand for renewable energy sources. For example, to bring a wind power plant in the sea...PHOTONICS HANDBOOK ARTICLESPhotonics HandbookDriving Diode Lasers: A Straightforward ProcedureBy observing a few simple rules that govern diode lasers’ properties, driving them loses much of its mystery. Below its threshold current, a diode laser emits LED light with spontaneous...Photonics HandbookFiber Lasers: Continuing to Power GrowthEarly fiber lasers were inefficient and limited to low powers, until more effective methods emerged to deliver the pump light into the cladding. Valentin Gapontsev, founder and CEO of IPG Photonics,...Photonics HandbookExcimer Optics: High Power Demands High ReliabilityThe first high-reflectance mirror coatings for the UV and vacuum UV (VUV) were of the Al + MgF2 type produced in the late 1950s. Coatings of this design are still used today for multigas cavity...Photonics HandbookCommon Infrared Optical Materials and Coatings: A Guide to Properties, Performance, and ApplicationsThe optical materials selected for an optical system depend upon the application, the required system performance and the environment in which the system is to perform; thus the materials’...WHITEPAPERSPhotonics.com 9/29/2023Accuracy in Optical DesignAnswering some common questions new users of optical design and analysis software have are “How accurate are the results?” or “Can I trust the results I get?” and discussing the importance of...Photonics.com 10/5/2023Recent Developments in Hyperspectral Imaging in Industrial ApplicationsIn the rapidly evolving world of industrial machine vision, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has emerged as an invaluable tool, offering a wealth of information for various applications. This white paper...Photonics.com 12/2/2022Plano Optics - Complex Components and AssembliesWe offer custom prisms, polygons, windows, mirrors, and wedges from one source. FISBA not only has the complete production chain in-house, we can also develop entire systems built-to-spec or support...Photonics.com 3/5/2024Optical Manufacturing Tolerance ChartThe optical manufacturing tolerance chart outlines the general tolerance limits for spherical and aspherical lenses that we can accommodate. It also acts as a valuable reference tool when designing a...WEBINARSPhotonics.com 10/13/2021Controlling High-Power Laser ProcessesLaser beams with powers of many tens of kilowatts are becoming increasingly common in today's industrial applications. However, as the powers increase, the stakes increase as well. Keeping high-power...Photonics.com 10/27/2021Fiber Optic Solutions for Medical DevicesSteve Allen provides a brief overview and examples of procedures that continue to push adoption and proliferation of optical fiber-based medical devices. From cosmetic surgery to cutting-edge sensing...Photonics.com 3/7/2019In Vivo Medical Laser Procedures: An OverviewThis webinar, presented by OFS, will provide an overview of current in vivo medical procedures performed using lasers and optical fibers. The presentation will begin with a brief history of...Photonics.com 2/16/2022Single-Photon Detectors and Detection: SiPM, SPAD, SNSPD, PMT, TES, and Photon-Resolving Camera TechnologiesIncreasingly, photodetectors capable of detecting single photons are demanded by modern applications, including quantum computing, time-of-flight lidar, and dark matter detection. These applications...PHOTONICS DICTIONARY+ TERMSPhotonics DictionaryhydrophilicHydrophilic is a term used to describe substances or materials that have an affinity for water. The word hydrophilic comes from the Greek words "hydro," meaning water, and "philos," meaning loving or...Photonics Dictionarycharge-coupled deviceA charge-coupled device (CCD) is a type of electronic image sensor used in various imaging devices, including digital cameras, camcorders, and scientific instruments. It consists of an integrated...Photonics DictionaryturbidityTurbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by the presence of suspended particles. These particles can include sediment, silt, clay, plankton, and other microscopic...Photonics Dictionarylong-wave infraredLong-wave infrared (LWIR) refers to a specific range of the infrared spectrum. Infrared radiation is divided into three main categories based on wavelength: near-infrared (NIR), mid-wave infrared...VIDEOSPhotonics.com 3/4/2024Designing for Manufacturability with Fluorides and Other High Expansion Materials - LaCroix Precision OpticsAs the demand for fluorides and other high expansion materials increases, it is important to understand the risks/challenges involved with these materials and how they affect various factors such as...Photonics.com 8/14/2023How to Clean Spherical Lens - DayOpticsCheck out our new video tutorial on how to clean spherical lenses! Our latest video breaks down the step-by-step process for effectively cleaning spherical lenses, ensuring crystal-clear images every...Photonics.com 3/4/2024Specifying Optical Coatings - LaCroix Precision OpticsOptical coatings modify the reflectance, transmittance, and absorptive properties of optic substrates to make them much more efficient and functional. From an optical manufacturer's perspective,...Photonics.com 3/4/2024Precision Aspheres: Manufacturing and Metrology - LaCroix Precision OpticsAspheres have allowed optical designers to create systems and products that push the limitations of performance across several fields. In this presentation, we will explain the various processes...PHOTONICS BUYERS' GUIDE CATEGORIESDiode-Pumped Solid-State LasersA diode-pumped solid-state laser is a type of laser system that uses semiconductor diode lasers to pump energy into a solid gain medium, resulting in the generation of coherent light. This technology...Alexandrite LasersAn alexandrite laser is a solid-state laser that utilizes a synthetic crystal made from the rare earth element alexandrite (BeAl2O4:Cr3+). This crystal is capable of emitting laser light in the...Nanosecond LasersSurface ProfilersCOMPANIESPhotonics Buyers' GuideSpecial Optics Inc.Designs, develops, and manufactures precision catalog and custom/OEM optical components and assemblies including high precision laser optics available for wavelengths throughout the UV and IR...Photonics Buyers' GuideLaCroix Precision OpticsThe LaCroix name is synonymous with quality precision optics. Since 1947, three generations of family leadership have guided LaCroix Precision Optics to become the premier precision optics...Photonics Buyers' GuideBaumer Ltd.Baumer Group is a manufacturer of sensors, encoders, measuring instruments, and components for automated image processing. Baumer combines innovative technologies and customer-oriented service into...Photonics Buyers' GuideTeledyne DALSA, Machine Vision OEM ComponentsTeledyne DALSA is a part of Teledyne’s Vision Solutions group and a leader in the design, manufacture, and deployment of digital imaging components for machine vision. Teledyne DALSA image...