Key Takeaways: Optical systems operating in harsh environments face specific challenges related to preventing component damage and maintaining system performance. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings, along with other durable anti-reflective (AR) coatings, offer effective solutions for these systems. DLC coatings are known for their high hardness, low friction, and resistance to scratches and corrosion, while also […]
Key Takeaways: Waveplates, also known as retarders, are optical components used to change the polarization state of light without affecting its intensity or direction. They work by introducing a phase delay between two orthogonal polarization components using birefringent materials like quartz. Key types include quarter-wave plates, half-wave plates, zero-order-waveplates, and achromatic waveplates, each serving different […]
Key Takeaways: Satellite telescope optics, like those in the James Webb and Hubble Space Telescope, are designed for durability, thermal stability, and premium imaging capabilities in extreme conditions. Avantier produces space or satellite telescopes, SiC Optics, and OAP mirrors, specializing in custom, high-quality optical components, for example, Ritchey-Chretien telescopes. SiC mirrors offer strength and thermal […]
Key Takeaways: Sapphire windows applications include aerospace (satellite viewfinders), medical devices (endoscope lenses), and manufacturing (semiconductor equipment) due to their extreme hardness, durability, and premium optical qualities. Sapphire is stronger and more scratch-resistant than glass, offering superior thermal stability and chemical resistance in harsh environments. Avantier specializes in custom sapphire optics, providing reliable solutions for […]
Key Takeaways: Overconfidence in idealized models can lead to disappointing real-world results in optical systems. While these models provide valuable insights, they assume perfect conditions that don’t exist in practice. Aberrations, distortions, and the diffraction limit are unavoidable factors that impact system performance. To ensure your designs meet real-world expectations, account for these deviations early […]
Key Takeaways Underwater imaging technology is vital for marine exploration and research. Conventional wide-angle lenses suffer from distortion and chromatic aberration underwater, degrading image quality. An underwater imaging correction lens, with additional lens groups, counteracts these issues, significantly improving image clarity and accuracy. This advancement enhances our capacity to observe and study the underwater world, […]
Cutting-Edge Space Optics and High-Performance Optical systems for Space Missions With extensive experience in high-precision opto-mechanical design, fabrication, and assembly, Avantier is a trusted partner in major space programs worldwide. Our solutions for space optical remote sensing payloads, including space camera and satellite-borne optical cameras, meet the stringent requirements of both space science and Earth […]
Key Takeaways The diffraction limit is the fundamental resolution limit of an optical system, dictated by the wave nature of light and diffraction. When light passes through an aperture, it forms an Airy disk—a central bright spot surrounded by rings. The smallest focusable point, or minimum spot size, is defined by this disk. Calculated as […]
Key Takeaways: Reflective optics, essential for fields like astronomy, life sciences, and industrial applications, utilize mirrors to direct wavefronts. Mirrors are either first surface, with coatings on the front, or second surface, with coatings on the back, affecting their use in precision optics. Reflective coatings can be metallic, dielectric, or hybrid, tailored for durability and […]
Geometric Optics vs. Wave Optics Often people working in optics and photonics confuse geometric optics with wave optics, but they aren’t the same thing! Geometric optics treats the propagation of light in terms of “rays”, where each ray travels in a straight line. But in wave optics, we consider the propagation of light in terms […]
