Fused Silica Wedge Prism: Specifications, Uses and Advantages
A fused silica wedge prism is a type of optical prism that is made out of fused silica. It has a triangular shape, with the base of the triangle being the widest part. The apex of the triangle is very thin and sharp. This prism is used in a variety of applications, including spectroscopy, laser interferometry, and microscopy. In this blog post, we will discuss the specifications, uses, and advantages of fused silica wedge prisms!
What is a fused silica wedge prism and what are its uses?
A fused silica wedge prism is an optical element with a slanted surface that is used to deflect light. The angle of the surface can be anything from 0.01 to 45 degrees. The typical use for a wedge prism is to separate light into its component colors (dispersion), but they can also be used for beam steering, retro-reflecting, or wavelength selection.
How is a fused silica wedge prism made?
Fused silica is made from pure silicon dioxide. The manufacturing process begins with quartz sand (silicon dioxide). This sand is then melted and cooled to form a pure glass. The glass is then annealed (cooled slowly) to relieve stress within the material. Finally, the glass is cut and ground into the desired shape.
What are the different types of fused silica wedge prisms?
There are three main types of fused silica wedge prisms: right angle, equilateral, and isosceles. Right angle wedges are the most common type of fused silica wedge prism. They have a 90-degree angle between the hypotenuse and one leg of the triangle. Equilateral wedges have all sides of the triangle equal in length. Isosceles wedges have two sides of the triangle that are equal in length.
Advantages of fused silica wedge prisms
Fused silica wedge prisms offer many advantages, including:
- High stability and resistance to thermal shock
- Low expansion coefficient and high melting point
- High transmission from the UV to the IR spectral regions
- Good surface quality for precise imaging applications
- Can be used at high powers due to minimal absorption losses
Applications of fused silica wedge prisms
Fused silica wedge prisms have a variety of uses, including:
- Beam steering
- Collimation
- Splitting light into its spectral components (dispersing light)
- Selectively reflect or transmit different wavelength bands of light
- Laser line generation
How to select the right fused silica wedge prism for your needs
There are a few things to consider when selecting the right fused silica wedge prism for your needs. The first is the size of the prism. The second is the wavelength of light you’ll be using it with. And the third is the angle of incidence (angle at which light hits the surface of the prism).
Size: Fused silica wedge prisms come in a variety of sizes. The size you need will depend on the application you’re using it for.
Wavelength: Fused silica wedge prisms are designed to work with a specific wavelength of light. Make sure to select the prism that is compatible with the wavelength of light you’ll be using.
Angle of Incidence: The angle of incidence is the angle at which light hits the surface of the prism. The angle of incidence will affect the amount of light that is reflected and refracted by the prism.
If you have any questions about fused silica wedge prisms, or if you would like to learn more about them, please contact us. We would be happy to help you select the right prism for your needs.
Thank you for reading!
