Prisms are transparent optical blocks with at least two flat polished sides that are inclined relative to each other. For tasks including beam steering, beam displacement, beam splitting or combining picture reversal, and image rotation, prisms are crucial in optical systems. Ultra-precision prisms are among the key custom products offered by Alfa Chemistry. We are able to make custom orders depending on the specific needs of each customer in addition to the regularly used prisms.
Pentagonal prisms, right angle prisms, angular cubic mirrors, anamorphic prisms, wedge prisms, and more are among Alfa Chemistry's prism offerings. Prisms of different sizes, with or without special film coatings, can be made by us. Prisms are most frequently made of BK7, UV-grade fused silica, and SF11 glass. On request, other materials are also accessible. Alfa Chemistry keeps raising the standard for customized prisms while still offering affordable prices and quick shipping.
Prisms and Refraction
Selecting the right kind of optical prism for your project requires a thorough understanding of how prisms operate.
Snell's law of refraction describes how light interacts with an optical surface.
n1sin(θ1)=n2sin(θ2)
where n1 is the refractive index of the incident medium, n2 is the refractive index of the refracting medium, θ1 is the angle of the incident light, and θ2 is the angle of the refracted light.
The ability of prisms to reflect light without the use of special coatings is well recognized. This is achieved by complete introspective reflection (TIR). When the incidence angle is greater than the critical angle (θc), something happens. Only when light travels from a high refractive index medium to a low refractive index medium does total internal reflection occur.
Snell's law describes the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of transmission of light rays as they pass through a medium:
where n1 is the refractive index of the medium from which the light originates and n2 is the refractive index of the medium from which the light leaves.
A coating must be used if the prism surface does not fulfill the TIR criteria for the required angle. As a result, whereas uncoated prisms can typically be utilized relatively successfully in other applications, other applications require coated prisms.
Our Customization Capabilities
Alfa Chemistry can assist if you need customized prisms in small numbers. Prism optics with high performance can be made possible by Alfa Chemistry's sophisticated optical components team, which possesses the necessary industry competence in prism modification procedures, technology, and metrology. There are numerous different prism kinds available, each having a unique shape to achieve the reflection required to complete a particular optical task.
The production capabilities listed below may change depending on the type of prism and more advanced materials. We frequently employ substrate materials including the majority of optical glasses, fused silica, ZnSe, Si, ZnS, MgF2, CaF2, etc. Describe your needs, and our team of optical customization experts will work directly with you to offer an optical prism that satisfies your specifications while staying within your financial limits.
Alfa Chemistry applies thin film coatings internally to 98% of all of our custom coated prisms in materials ranging from UV to NIR. Our prisms are supplied with detailed test reports, interferograms, all accompanying certifications, and 100% inspection.
We are the prism experts! You can also browse the categories below to see the more specific types of prisms Alfa Chemistry can offer. If you need technical advice, please contact our technical team to learn more about our high-quality services.