Right Angle Prisms: Overview
Right angle prisms are an essential optical component that deflects light by 90° or 180°, depending on the direction of the light and the face it enters. These prisms are characterized by their rectangular connecting edges and faces that are perpendicular to the base. This design allows for precise control of light direction, making them very useful in a variety of optical applications.
While many of the functions of right angle prisms can be achieved using flat mirrors, prisms offer advantages in mounting, alignment, and fine-tuning. When the hypotenuse is used for external reflection, a reflective coating (metallic or dielectric) can be applied to enhance performance.
Standard Configuration of Right Angle Prisms
In the standard configuration, the short leg of a right angle prism faces the incident light source. When light enters the prism, it reflects from the hypotenuse at right angles due to total internal reflection and subsequently exits from the opposite short face. To maximize transmission efficiency, anti-reflection coatings can be applied to both the entrance and exit faces.
Special Types of Right Angle Prisms
Porro Prisms
Right angle prisms can be used as 180° beam reflectors when light enters through the hypotenuse, known as Porro prisms. This configuration allows light to return through the hypotenuse with a simple positional shift. The image produced by this prism is inverted from top to bottom, but maintains the left-right orientation. By precisely adjusting the prism, the beam elevation can be controlled while the azimuth axis remains unchanged. Porro prisms are commonly used to change the image orientation in optical instruments such as telescopes, periscopes, and binoculars. Typically, two Porro prisms are bonded together with optical glue in these applications.
Dove Prisms
The Dove prism is a special variation of the right angle prism that can be used as an image rotator. Light enters through one of the legs, parallel to the hypotenuse face. As the light is refracted down the hypotenuse and reflected internally, it exits through the other leg, maintaining its original orientation. Dove prisms are designed for parallel light, as other configurations may introduce significant astigmatism. Typically, Dove prisms are manufactured as truncated right angle prisms, omitting the triangular vertex to reduce weight while maintaining functionality.
Mok Optics Right Angle Prism Specifications
At Mok Optics, we pride ourselves on producing high-quality right angle prisms using premium materials, including BK7 A-grade optical glass, UV-grade fused silica, and more. Our manufacturing standards ensure precision and reliability for a wide range of applications.
Summary
If your application requires higher flatness accuracy, tighter dimensional tolerances, or superior surface quality, we invite you to contact us. Mok Optics is equipped with state-of-the-art manufacturing technology, enabling us to produce custom optics to your specific needs.
For a consultation or to discuss custom specifications, please contact Mok Optics. We are committed to providing the highest quality optics for your project.
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