Oplens Optical can provide a variety of custom infrared optical lenses made of different IR optical materials. We offer cylindrical, plano-convex/concave and meniscus lenses, as well as achromatic doublets and aspherical options to reduce aberrations within the system.

The following IR materials are suitable choices for IR lenses:

We offer a wide range of IR substrates including Ge, Si, ZnSe, ZnS, ZnS, CaF 2, BaF 2 and GaAs. Our lenses offer a variety of anti-reflective coating options for increased durability and performance.

Use custom germanium (Ge) lenses because of their high refractive index and high IR transmission:

1.Germanium can transmit from 1.8µm to 23µm and completely block the visible area

2.The high Knoop hardness (780) makes it ideal for applications where durability is critical, but it can only be used at temperatures below 100°C.

Custom Fluoride Lenses – Knight Optical offers a variety of custom fluoride lenses including Calcium Fluoride (CaF 2 ), Barium Fluoride (BaF 2 ) and Magnesium Fluoride (MgF 2 ):

1. Barium fluoride BaF 2 is commonly used in infrared spectroscopy because of its properties including broad band transmission and low refractive index (1.48). BaF 2 is stable up to 800°C, but is thermal shock resistant and should be used in dry environments. The Knoop hardness is 82.

2. Magnesium fluoride MgF 2 is more robust than ZnSe and offers very good transmittance from 120nm to 7µm. The refractive index is 1.413, the lowest refractive index for commonly used infrared substrates. MgF has a density of 3.11 g/cm3 and a Knoop hardness of 415, which is resistant to chemical etching and laser damage.

3. Lithium fluoride can also be considered, which transmits up to 6µm, but is more commonly used in UV applications due to its high transmittance in the UV-Vis region. However, it is very soft.

Custom Zinc Selenide (ZnSe)/Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) – Zinc selenide is often the material of choice for CO laser systems due to its low absorbance in the IR range, especially 10.6µm. It also has a broad transmission range from 0.6µm to 21µm, with an average transmission of 70%, which can be further improved if an AR coating is applied. In normal atmospheres, ZnSe is not recommended for use above 250°C.

IR Optical applications

IR Optical have applications in many fields, from high-power CO2 lasers operating at 10.6 μm to night vision thermal imaging (MWIR and LWIR bands) and infrared imaging. They are also important in spectroscopy because the transitions used to identify many trace gases are in the mid-infrared region. We manufacture laser line optics and infrared components that perform well over a wide wavelength range, and our experienced infrared team can provide comprehensive design support and consulting.

Custom infrared optical lenses

We can customize IR lenses, windows, filters and other optical components to meet your application requirements, and our design team can work with you from the prototype stage to production. Please click here for more customized services. The quality of our stock and custom IR lenses is guaranteed. Our broad selection of substrates and optical coatings, coupled with state-of-the-art mechanical and metrology laboratories, ensures that your equipment will be equipped with the highest quality optics.