Global Optics (UK) Ltd

Lenses

Lenses are optical devices with a perfect or approximate axial symmetry which enables transmitted beams of light to be converged or diverged. They are classified as either single, cylindrical or achromatic lenses. Simple lenses tend to consist of a single optical element, whilst a compound lens brings together several simple lenses with a common axis, allowing for more optical aberrations to be corrected than with a single lens. Applications range from the simple collection of a laser beam to precise imaging and image transfer. At Global Optics, we offer the full range of lens types, including plano-convex, double-convex, plano-concave, double-concave and cylindrical. These are available in a number of materials, including Germanium, Zinc Selenide, Barium Fluoride, Calcium Fluoride and
Silicon.

Prisms

Global Optics offers a comprehensive range of prism types, shapes and sizes, including:

• Penta Prisms - used to deviate an incident beam without inverting or reversing to 90 ° . Typical applications include surveying, alignment, range finding and optical tooling.
• Beamsplitter Penta Prisms - the Penta Prism may be used as a beamsplitter by adding a wedge with a partial reflective coating.
• Right Angle Prisms - commonly used in telescopes, periscopes and other optical devices.
• Dove Prism - used for two main applications: as a rotator or as a retroreflector.
• Roof Prism - typically used in terrestrial telescopes, viewing systems and rangefinders.
• Corner Cube Retroreflectors - often used for distance measurement, optical signal processes and as laser interferometers.

Sapphire

Global Optics produces lenses, windows, mirrors, filters and prisms in a wide range of materials, including Germanium, Silicon, Calcium Fluoride, Zinc Selenide and Sapphire. The last of these, Sapphire, is an ideal material for use in hostile environments largely due to its unique combination of physical, chemical and optical properties that retain their integrity even at high temperatures. Sapphire lenses, mirrors, prisms and other optical devices are also highly resistant to acid and alkali attack. To download our full datasheet, please head directly to the Global Optics website at www.globalopticsuk.com.

Silicon

Global Optics produces a large selection of lenses, mirrors, windows, filters and prisms using Silicon. Silicon’s low density and high thermal conductivity make it an ideal material for laser mirrors. However, it is more often used in optical windows within the 3-5 micron region and as a substrate for optical filters. Optical quality silicon has a high refractive index and therefore must be coated with an anti-reflective finish in order to achieve high optical transmission. You can find out more about the features and benefits of silicon optical components by following the link to our website.

Germanium

Like Silicon, Germanium also has a high refractive index, which means it is essential to add anti-reflection coatings in order to improve transmission. This is an inert, mechanically rugged and fairly hard material that is ideal for external infrared applications. It is also widely used as a substrate for optical bandpass filters in the region of 2-14 microns. Geranium is available as generated lens blanks, polished windows, and lenses and prisms with AR coatings (including hard carbon coatings).

Calcium Fluoride

Calcium Fluoride lenses, windows and prisms are used for transmitting the vacuum ultraviolet into the infrared. This is a physically and chemically stable material with good water and chemical resistance. Typical applications include VUV-UV-IR imaging systems, excimer laser windows, optical analysers, spectroscopic windows and lenses and ATR crystals. To find out more about the features and benefits of Calcium Fluoride in optics, please visit the Global Optics website or simply give our sales team a call.

Zinc Selenide

Zinc Selenide is typically used for infrared windows, mirrors and lenses in the region of 0.5 microns to 22 microns. These are often employed in laser optics and Forward Looking IR systems (FLIR). To find out more about Zinc Selenide, or any of the optic materials that we use to manufacture our lenses, mirrors and prisms, please head directly to the Global Optics website, where you’ll find information on Barium Fluoride, Cadmium Telluride, Caesium Iodide, Calcite, Fused Silica, Gallium Arsenide, Lithium Fluoride,Magnesium Oxide, Potassium Chloride, Quartz, BK7 glass and many more.

Schott Colour Glass Filters

We are pleased to provide a fantastic range of Schott colour glass filters. Schott is a leading global filter glass manufacturer providing the industry with glass filters in almost any size, shape and quality required. We offer a range of approximately 60 types of colour glass filters including:

• Band Pass Filters
• Long Pass Filters
• Short Pass Filters
• Neutral Density Filters
• Conversion Filters
   

These can be manufactured from either basic glass, ionically coloured glass or colloidally coloured glass. Please visit our website to view specifications and further information.

Hoya Colour Glass Filters

We also offer Hoya colour glass filters. The Hoya filter line is widely regarded across a range of industries and is available as standard in the following dimensions:

• Polished 165 x 165 x 2.5 mm
• Polished 50 x 50 x 2.5 mm
• Unpolished 165 x 165 x 4-5 mm

Various coatings can be applied as well as thermal strengthening and stringent tolerances and surface finishes.

Hoya colour glass filters are used for various applications such as machine vision, CRT displays/ LCD/ FED, CCD, UV trans-illuminator, electronic instrumentation, night vision, imaging, calibration, telecommunication, medical devices and more.
 

Gallium Arsenide

Gallium arsenide is used for lenses and beam splitters providing an effective alternative to ZnSe in medium to high power CW CO2 laser systems. Gallium arsenide is extremely tough and durable. It is non-hydroscopic and safe to use in laboratory and field condition. Please follow the link to our website to find out more about gallium arsenide include technical data.

Caesium Iodide - CsI

Caesium Iodide features a transmission range from the visible region out to 70 microns through to a 2mm thick window. It is very soft as well as water soluble. Caesium Iodide is largely used for Infrared Spectroscopic windows as well as for beam splitters in FTIR instrumentations. Caesium Iodide can also be supplied thallium doped for scintillation applications. Please visit our website to find out more about Caesium Iodide and to view technical data.