Cylindrical Lenses
Definition: lenses which focus or defocus light only in one direction
More general term: lenses
German: zylindrische Linsen
How to cite the article; suggest additional literature
Author: Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta
Cylindrical lenses are optical lenses which are curved only in one direction. Therefore, they focus or defocus light only in one direction, for example in the horizontal direction but not in the vertical direction. As for ordinary lenses, their focusing or defocusing behavior can be characterized with a focal length or its inverse, the dioptric power.
Usually, the surface curvature of a cylindrical lens is of spherical type, but there are also aspheric cylindrical lenses. Further, there are cylindrical gradient-index lenses, not exhibiting any surface curvature.
Applications
Cylindrical lenses can be used to obtain a beam focus of elliptical form. That can be required, for example, for feeding light through the entrance slit of a monochromator or into an acousto-optic deflector, or for conditioning pump light for a slab laser.
There are fast axis collimators for diode bars, which are essentially cylindrical lenses – often with an aspheric shape.
Cylindrical lenses cause astigmatism of a laser beam: a mismatch of focus position for both directions. Conversely, they can also used for compensating astigmatism of a beam or an optical system. For example, they may be required for collimating the output of a laser diode such that one obtains a circular non-astigmatic beam.
Suppliers
The RP Photonics Buyer's Guide contains 81 suppliers for cylindrical lenses. Among them:
EKSMA OPTICS
Selection of uncoated plano-convex and plano-concave cylindrical lenses for quick delivery. Custom cutting, edging, coating or complete fabrication can be offered on request.
Shanghai Optics
Shanghai Optics offers cylindrical lenses e.g. with a dimension tolerance of ±30 μm or even ±10 μm, λ/4 or λ/8 surface irregularity and a centration better than 3 arcmin or even 1 arcmin.
Edmund Optics
Edmund Optics selection of cylinder lenses include achromatic, acylinder, plano-convex, or plano-concave. Achromatic cylinder lenses provide additional color correction by minimizing chromatic aberration. Hybrid acylinder lenses are ideal for color correction, in addition to minimizing spherical aberration. Edmund Optics offers cylinder lenses with glass or plastic substrates, or with circular, rectangular, or oblong dimensions. Multiple anti-reflection coating options are available from the ultraviolet to the infrared, including UV-AR, UV-VIS, MgF2, VIS-NIR, VIS 0°, or NIR I. Edmund Optics offers full prescription data, in addition to 2D or 3D models.
Intrinsic Crystal Technology
Intrinsic Crystal Technology offers cylindrical lenses including plano-convex, plano-concave and meniscus lenses.
Artifex Engineering
Artifex Engineering offers custom plano-convex, plano-concave or achromatic cylindrical lenses. Achromatic cylindrical lenses significantly reduce chromatic, spherical and coma aberrations. Visit our product page for more information. We look forward to your inquiry.
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See also: lenses, astigmatism
and other articles in the category general optics
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