Optical Prism

An optical prism is a solid, transparent optical element with flat surfaces that refract light. Light enters through one surface and may be rotated, deflected, or scattered before exiting through another surface. These surfaces are highly polished, and the angle between them, the number of surfaces, and their position determine the function of the prism.

types of Optical Prism

Right-Angle Prism

Shape: Triangular with one 90° angle

Function: Reflects light typically by 90° or 180°

Applications: Periscopes, binoculars, laser systems

Dove Prism

Shape: Trapezoidal

Function: Inverts or rotates an image when the prism is rotated along its longitudinal axis

Applications: Beam rotation, image processing

Penta Prism

Shape: Five-sided with two reflective surfaces

Function: Deviates the light path by a fixed angle (usually 90°) regardless of small input variations

Applications: Optical instruments like cameras and surveying equipment

Corner Cube Prism (Retroreflector)

Shape: Three mutually perpendicular reflecting surfaces

Function: Reflects light back toward its source

Applications: Laser rangefinders, road signs, satellite communication

Wedge Prism

Shape: Two non-parallel surfaces forming a thin wedge

Function: Slightly deflects or displaces the light beam

Applications: Optical alignment, beam steering, and correcting optical aberrations

Materials and Coatings

Hongsheng uses a variety of high-quality materials in the manufacture of optical prisms, such as fused silica, filter glass, germanium, silicon and zinc selenide.

Its in-house coating facility offers standard and custom coatings, including anti-reflective designs, reflectors, beam splitters, and high laser damage threshold coatings. This ensures optimal performance and durability in a variety of applications.

Uses of Optical Prisms

Dispersion: Prisms can be used to separate white light into various colors, a process known as dispersion. When light is refracted through a prism, rainbow colors can be seen, and this is the principle behind the rainbow colors.

Reflecting and redirecting light: Prisms can be used to reflect and redirect light, making them useful in optical systems such as telescopes, cameras and binoculars.

Measuring Angles: Prisms can be used to measure angles by reflecting a laser beam onto a scale or detector.

Beam Control: Prisms can be used to control laser beams in aerospace, medical and industrial applications.

Polarization: Prisms can be used to separate light into its polarized state, which is useful in applications such as LCD displays, 3D glasses and polarization measurements.

Imaging: Prisms are used to create images such as in periscopes, microscopes and endoscopes.

Optical assemblies: Prisms can be used in combination with other optical elements and mechanical parts to create optical assemblies for a variety of applications.

Interferometry: Prisms are used to split a laser beam into two or more beams, which can later be recombined to analyze the resulting interference pattern. Overall, the versatility of prisms allows them to be used in a wide range of applications such as scientific research, telecommunications, medicine and military technology.

Customization Scope for Optical Prisms

Prism Type & Geometry:

Choose from various designs such as right-angle, Dove, Porro, retroreflector, wedge, and more, tailored to your specific light manipulation requirements.

Materials:

Selection from high-quality optical glasses or specialized materials that ensure optimal transmission, durability, and performance.

Dimensions & Tolerances:

Custom sizes, angles, and edge lengths are available with ultra-precision tolerance control (up to 0.1μm) to ensure exact performance.

Surface Quality:

Options for surface polishing and finishing to achieve low roughness levels, ensuring minimal scattering and high optical clarity.

Coating Solutions:

Advanced AR coatings, multi-layer coatings, or custom spectral coatings can be applied to enhance transmission, reduce reflections, or tailor performance for specific wavelengths.

Quality Assurance:

Full traceability, 100% inspection using CMM, and rigorous quality control processes to meet strict industry standards.

Optical Prism Manufacturer

Hongsheng is a leading manufacturer and supplier of optical prisms, offering a wide range of optical products for various industries. Our company specializes in manufacturing a wide range of high precision prisms with specifications including flatness, angle, size, transmitted wavefront, through aperture, surface quality and cusp. Our products include a wide range of prisms such as right angle prisms, penta prisms, aiming prisms, triangular prisms, angular cone prisms, dispersion prisms, rhombic prisms and more. Our team of advanced optics specialists has industry knowledge and expertise in prism manufacturing processes, technologies, manufacturing techniques, manufacturing equipment and metrology to deliver prism optics with superior performance.