What Are Achromatic Lenses?
Achromatic lenses are precision optical components designed to correct chromatic aberration and significantly reduce spherical aberration in optical systems. Chromatic aberration occurs because different wavelengths of light refract at different angles as they pass through a lens, causing colors to focus at different points. This results in blurred images, color fringing, and reduced optical performance.
Traditional single-element lenses are especially prone to chromatic aberration due to material dispersion. This limitation can negatively impact image quality in demanding applications such as astronomy, laser optics, medical imaging, microscopy, and photography, where accuracy and clarity are critical.
Achromatic lenses overcome these challenges by bringing multiple wavelengths—typically red and blue light—into a common focal point, producing sharper images with improved color fidelity.
Achromatic Lens Design and Performance
Achromatic lenses achieve chromatic correction by combining multiple optical elements with different dispersive properties. Most commonly, an achromatic lens is designed as a doublet, consisting of:- Positive (convex) element made from low-dispersion glass such as crown glass
- Negative (concave) element made from high-dispersion glass such as flint glass
Applications of Achromatic Lenses
Achromatic lenses are widely used across industries that demand high optical precision and image quality:Astronomy Imaging and Photography
Used in cameras, camcorders, telescopes, and imaging systems to deliver sharp images with reduced color fringing and distortion.Laser Systems
Improve laser beam quality and enable precise beam focusing in industrial, scientific, and research laser applications.Microscopy
Essential components in optical microscopes, enabling high-resolution imaging with accurate color representation for research and analysis.Medical Instruments
Integrated into medical devices such as endoscopes and ophthalmoscopes to ensure reliable visualization and diagnostic accuracy.Materials for Achromatic Lenses
Avantier manufactures achromatic lenses using a wide range of optical materials to support applications from UV to infrared wavelengths, including:- Optical glass
- UV fused silica (JGS1)
- Infrared fused silica (JGS3)
- Calcium fluoride (CaF₂)
- Barium fluoride (BaF₂)
- Other crystalline optical materials
Manufacturing Capabilities
Specifications | Factory Standards | Manufacturing Limit |
Dimension Tolerance | +/-0.03mm | +/-0.01mm |
Center Thickness Tolerance | +/-0.03 mm | +/-0.02mm |
Radius Tolerance | +/-0.3% | +/-0.2% |
Surface Quality(S/D) | 20-10 | 10-5 |
Irregularity | 1/5 Lambda | < 1/10 Lambda |
Centration(arc min) | 3′ | 1′ |
Use Case: Broadband Precision Imaging
Avantier has developed a specialized achromatic imaging lens designed for precision beam collimation, tight light focusing, and efficient light collection across a wide spectral range from 200–1100 nm. It projects broadband light onto a sample as a small, symmetric focused spot and efficiently collects scattered light for high-accuracy, full-spectrum measurements. The achromatic design ensures consistent performance with minimal chromatic aberration across all wavelengths. Key Specifications:- Spectral Range: 200–1100 nm
- Clear Aperture: ≥ Ø9 mm
- Focused Spot Size: ≤ 50 μm
Custom Achromatic Lens Solutions
Avantier Inc. specializes in custom achromatic lenses tailored to your specific optical design requirements. Our lenses can be manufactured for a wide range of wavelength regions, including visible, UV-visible, and NIR–IR, making them suitable for diverse scientific, industrial, and commercial applications.
📩 Contact Avantier today to schedule a consultation or request a quote for your next achromatic lens project.
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