Collimating Lens
A collimating lens is a curved optical lens that makes parallel diverging beams of light. Avantier is a premium supplier of custom collimating lenses.
Configuring a Collimating Lens
For most optical applications, you’ll want a collimating lens system that requires minimum configuration. This might consist of multiple lenses mounted in a tube; at one end will be a convex lens, at the other, an adjustable aperture. An appropriate choice of focal distance, lens types and placement will mean that the lens can simply be attached directly to your collimator, spectrometer, light meter, or other measurement device. A collimating lens system may also be connected via a fiber connection if your application requires remote sensing.
It is important to realize that although collimator will improve imaging resolution, it will also reduce the intensity of a beam of light. In some cases, this may make collimator use inappropriate for remote sensing instruments which require ultra-high sensitivity.
Applications of Collimating Lens
Collimating lenses enable precise control the field of view, collection efficiency and spatial resolution of an optical system. They may also be used to configure collection angles for sampling and illumination.
One frequent use of collimating lenses is for spectroscopy. When using a collimating lens, light will consistently enter the sample from a specific angle. This results in stable, repeatable and reliable measurement results.
In neutron and X-ray machines rays of light may be going in all direction, and without a collimator each ray will be recorded, leading to a blurry and indistinct image. Rays that originate from above the sample may pass through an upper region but be recorded on the lower part of the image. When x-ray light is first passed through a collimator, all rays that pass through the sample will travel parallel and hit the imaging plate at the appropriate position. The image will be clear and resolution can be optimized.
Collimators designed for industrial radiography are often made of tungsten, and can be used to reduce undesirable radiation, protecting industrial workers while allowing radiation to travel toward the specimen and x-ray plate only.
Collimating lens applications are also used in linear accelerators for radiotherapy treatments, for beam shaping and limiting maximum field size. They are used to make the radiation sensors at nuclear power points directionally sensitive. Other applications include:
- Display measurement & calibration
- CO2-cutting lasers and lasers diodes
- Planar scintigraphy for electronic detection medical imaging
- Astronomical imaging
- Pigtailed receptacles
- Scintillation imaging
Collimating Lenses
Custom Collimating Lens at Avantier
At Avantier, we produce custom collimating lenses and lens systems for a wide variety of applications. Whether you need easy integration or ultimate flexibility, we can help you come up with the perfect collimating system for your application. Our experienced engineers and optical designers are available for personal consultations, and we can work with you to design and produce a high quality optical piece that fully meets your needs. In house equipment allows us to bring both production time and cost to a minimum, and state of the art metrology enables us to ensure your collimating lens system meets or exceeds all applicable standards. Contact use today to schedule an initial consultation or place your custom order.
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