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Quartz prisms
Product Details:
| Place of Origin: | China |
| Brand Name: | ZMSH |
| Model Number: | Quartz prisms |
Payment & Shipping Terms:
| Minimum Order Quantity: | 2 |
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| Price: | 20USD |
| Packaging Details: | custom cartons |
| Delivery Time: | 2-4 weeks |
| Payment Terms: | T/T |
| Supply Ability: | By case |
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Detail Information |
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| Material: | Quartz | Refractive Index (@587 Nm): | ~1.458 |
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| Thermal Expansion Coefficient: | 0.55 × 10⁻⁶ /K (near Zero Expansion) | Transmission Range: | 180 Nm (deep UV) ~ 2.2 µm (near IR) |
| Chemical Stability: | Acid-resistant, Corrosion-resistant | Radiation Resistance: | Suitable For Aerospace And Nuclear Environments |
Product Description
Definition
A prism is an optical element in which one or more reflective surfaces are ground into a single piece of glass. It functions to redirect light paths, invert or rotate images, and can be considered as a combination of planar mirrors. Prisms are widely used in laser research, laser optical systems, optical imaging, machine vision, life sciences, and biomedical applications or products.
Prisms can not only deflect light but also adjust image orientation. The design of a prism determines how it interacts with light. When light enters a prism, it may reflect off one or more surfaces before exiting, or it may be refracted as it passes through the prism.
Features
| Type | Features |
|---|---|
| Right-Angle Prism | 1. Deviates light path by 90° or 180° 2. Used in image/light path redirection |
| Wedge Prism | 1. When used alone, deflects the beam by a specific angle 2. When used in pairs, enables beam shaping or deviation control |
| Pentaprism | 1. Deviates light path by 90° 2. Maintains image orientation without inversion or reflection |
| Dove Prism | 1. Rotates the image by twice the prism’s rotation angle 2. Output beam remains aligned with the original beam direction |
| Hollow Roof Mirror (Reflective) | 1. Deviates light path by 180° 2. Reflective surface is coated with aluminum |
Description
1. Right-Angle Prism
A right-angle prism is commonly used to redirect the light path or deflect the image formed by an optical system by 90°. Depending on the orientation of the prism, the resulting image may appear laterally correct but vertically inverted. Right-angle prisms are also applied in image combination and beam displacement.
When light enters through one of the right-angle faces, it undergoes total internal reflection at the hypotenuse surface (interface with air) and exits through the other right-angle face, resulting in a 90° deviation.
When light enters through the hypotenuse surface, it experiences total internal reflection at both right-angle faces (interfaces with air) and exits back through the hypotenuse after being deviated by 180°.
2. Wedge Prism
When used individually, a wedge prism can deflect a normally incident light beam on its vertical surface by a certain angle. The deflection angle depends on the wedge angle—different wedge angles result in different beam deviations. When the beam remains stationary and the wedge prism is rotated, it can produce a circular scanning output of the beam.
A pair of wedge prisms can steer the beam to any position within a full-angle 4θd circle, where θd is the deviation angle of a single prism. This beam steering is achieved by independently rotating the two wedge prisms. It is commonly used in imaging applications to scan the beam to various positions, enabling precise beam control.
3. Pentaprism
A pentaprism reflects incoming light twice within the prism, changing its direction by exactly 90°. The image remains upright and retains its original handedness (no inversion or mirroring). Compared to a single-reflection right-angle prism, a pentaprism can precisely deflect the incoming beam by 90°, regardless of the prism's mounting orientation. This makes it more stable than a system composed of two mirrors, as it eliminates sensitivity to the angle of incoming light.
As a result, pentaprisms are commonly used in various optical observation and calibration instruments, such as theodolites, collimators, and rangefinders. In DSLR cameras, the viewfinder's reflex system also uses a pentaprism to redirect the optical path at a fixed angle.
4. Dove Prism
The Dove prism has unique optical properties. When light enters from the slanted face, the output beam maintains its original direction but forms an inverted image. If the prism is rotated by an angle θ, the resulting image rotates by 2θ. When light enters from the bottom surface of the prism, the beam is reflected back in the opposite direction, also producing an inverted image.
The Dove prism performs best when used with collimated (parallel) light. If the incoming beam is convergent, astigmatism may be introduced, which degrades image quality. Additionally, because total internal reflection occurs within the Dove prism, a phase difference arises between the s- and p-polarized components, which can affect the polarization state of the transmitted beam.
5. Hollow Roof Mirror Prism
The hollow roof mirror prism reflects light that enters from the slanted surfaces of the prism. Unlike flat mirrors, the reflected beam remains parallel to the incident beam but is laterally displaced, avoiding issues caused by beam interference.
The two angled surfaces of the right-angle prisms are fixed at a precise angle, making the setup much more convenient and accurate compared to manually aligning two separate mirrors to achieve parallel beam reversal.
Applications of Quartz Prisms
Quartz prisms are widely used in precision optical systems due to their excellent UV transmission, thermal stability, chemical resistance, and low birefringence. Their ability to precisely manipulate light paths through refraction and reflection makes them ideal for high-performance optical applications. Key application areas include:
1. Laser and Optical Systems
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Used to redirect, split, or combine laser beams with high precision
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Ideal for high-power laser systems due to quartz's high damage threshold
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UV-grade quartz prisms are essential in excimer laser setups and beam steering assemblies
2. Spectroscopy and Analytical Instruments
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Serve as dispersive elements in spectrometers for separating wavelengths
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UV-transparent quartz prisms are used in fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy
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Enable precise angle-dependent analysis of optical signals in scientific instruments
3. Imaging and Vision Systems
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Correct and manipulate image orientation in microscopes, cameras, and telescopes
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Employed in pentaprisms, right-angle prisms, and Dove prisms for image rotation or redirection
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Common in machine vision, biomedical imaging, and inspection systems
4. Photonics and Communication
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Quartz prisms serve as polarization rotators, beam steering elements, or wavelength separators in fiber optic and photonic circuits
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Used in the design of optical isolators and modulators due to quartz’s stable refractive index
5. Metrology and Alignment Tools
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Integrated into autocollimators, alignment scopes, and surveying instruments for accurate angle measurement and beam deviation
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Provide reliable reference angles in interferometry and calibration systems
6. Aerospace and Harsh Environment Optics
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Quartz prisms operate reliably in vacuum, high-radiation, and high-temperature environments
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Used in satellite imaging, spaceborne spectroscopy, and defense optics systems
FAQ
Q1: What is a quartz prism and how is it different from standard glass prisms?
A1:
A quartz prism is an optical prism made from high-purity crystalline or fused quartz (SiO₂), known for its excellent UV transmission, thermal stability, and chemical resistance. Compared to standard glass prisms (e.g., N-BK7), quartz prisms can operate in deeper UV ranges, withstand higher temperatures, and are more suitable for harsh or high-energy environments.
Q2: What wavelength range can quartz prisms transmit?
A2:
Quartz prisms offer a wide transmission range, typically from 180 nm (deep UV) to 2.2 μm (near-infrared). This makes them ideal for ultraviolet lasers, fluorescence spectroscopy, and IR beam steering.
Q4: Are quartz prisms resistant to high temperatures?
A4:
Yes. Quartz has a high thermal stability with a softening point around 1,620°C and excellent resistance to thermal shock. This makes quartz prisms suitable for high-power laser optics and high-temperature measurement systems.