Blog — Optics University

In our previous articles we learned that optical materials are defined by their ability to refract and disperse light, as well as, the physical characteristics of the material itself. Using these properties, an optical designer determines which material, or often times several different materials, best suit the intended purpose of their system. But choosing a material is only the first step in the process. More often than not, a simple polished surface that is smooth and defect free to the unaided eye, would cause any number of unwanted optical effects when assembled into a fully integrated system. It is important...

We’ve reached a crossroads in our discussion of the concepts in light and optics.  Previously, we learned that optical materials are manufactured to have very specific refractive and dispersive properties, and it is these characteristics that optical designers rely upon to manipulate light to a desired purpose.  We’ve also discussed that material properties such as stress, fluorescence, coefficient of thermal expansion and homogeneity play a large role in how an optic behaves when incorporated into a fully integrated system.  But once an appropriate material has been chosen, whether for use as a lens, window, prism, or mirror (among others), how...

In our previous article, we discussed how an optical material is principally defined by its specific refractive index (n) and dispersive (Vd) properties. Material manufacturers go to great lengths to control these aspects of their products. But while these two fundamental characteristics are generally the first an optical designer considers, they are by no means the only aspects that are important. Homogeneity When a glass is manufactured, it’s not only the percentage of specific ingredients that are important to its final properties but also how well those ingredients are mixed together. Consider for a moment a polished lens with a...

In our previous article, we discussed how light is defined by opticians in terms of its wavelength and that their understanding of its propagation as a wave allows them to manipulate its behavior using optics.  We’ll now move on and begin to cover the many considerations when designing an optical system. The first and most obvious consideration in optical design is defining the intended application.  Perhaps the system will be used to image the sun in ultraviolet light; perhaps it is for biomedical imaging of human tissue or maybe it’s a simple viewport that is subject to extremely high pressure...