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Optical
Specifications
Optical
Materials
Achromatic
Lenses
Spherical
Lenses
Cylindrical
Lenses
Prisms
Penta
Prisms
Corner
Cube Retroreflector
Waveplate
Beamsplitters
Filters
Coating
Cleaning
Optics
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Plate
Beamsplitters
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Plate
beamsplitters are used to break incident, monochromatic light
beams into two beams, each with a specified intensity ratio.
Plate beamsplitters are optical windows with a semi-transparent
mirrored coating, which passively breaks the beam into two
or more separate beams. One of the beams is reflected incident
energy, of which a very small portion is absorbed, while the
second beam is fully transmitted. In addition to the task
of dividing light, beamsplitters can be employed to recombine
two separate light beams or images into a single path.
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Plate
beamsplitters are often referred to as mirror beamsplitters
as the neutral color characteristics provided by their
optical crown glass designs gives the appearance of
a mirror. Having a partially silvered coating allows
them to produce a desired transmission-to-reflection
ratio. These ratios usually vary between 50:50 and 20:80,
depending upon the application, when operated at 45
degrees of incidence. In most cases, plate beamsplitters
have multiple layers of dielectric coating on one surface,
while the second surface is coated with an antireflective
material, which helps to, but doesnĄ¯t completely remove
ghosted images. The second surface may also be wedged
to eliminate internal fringe, which can help to cut
down the incidence of ghosting even further. However,
if the removal of ghosted beams is of primary concern,
pellicle or cube beamsplitters should be used instead
plate beamsplitters.
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Plate
beamsplitters are available in three distinct shapes; circular,
square and rectangular. Circular and square plate beamsplitters
are generally designed to function at 45 degree incidence,
while rectangular plates usually function at 0 degrees of
incidence. However, beamsplitters of all three shapes are
available that can function at either or both angles of incidence.
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