Microspheres
Microspheres offer a practical solution for channeling light into or out of optical fibers and transmitting images within confined spaces. The inherent advantage of microspheres lies in their capability to achieve near-perfect coupling due to the exceptionally close proximity of their focal point to the sphere’s surface. This enables seamless connection with optical fibers or other microspheres.
In terms of coatings, three distinct options are at your disposal. All three coatings consist of a single layer of MgF2, meticulously optimized for either the visible spectrum or one of the two diode laser bands. Should you opt for a coated microsphere, it’s imperative to maintain alignment along the coating axis during usage. To facilitate this, a removable black dot is provided for easy identification of the axis.
Applications
Microspheres find applications in various fields due to their unique optical properties and versatility. Here are two to three examples of their usage:
- Biomedical Imaging and Drug Delivery: Microspheres are employed as contrast agents in medical imaging techniques like ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scans. They can be loaded with drugs and used for targeted drug delivery to specific cells or tissues within the body.
- Fiber Optics and Telecommunications: Microspheres are used in fiber-optic communications to couple light into and out of optical fibers efficiently. They are also employed in optical switches and modulators, enhancing the performance of telecommunications systems.
- Microsphere-based Sensors: Microspheres can act as sensors for various physical and chemical parameters. They are utilized in applications such as environmental monitoring (e.g., detecting pollutants in water), biosensing (e.g., detecting biomolecules like DNA or proteins), and gas sensing (e.g., detecting specific gases in industrial settings).
These are just a few examples, and microspheres have many other applications in fields like materials science, photonics, and even cosmetics (as ingredients in makeup products for their light-scattering properties). Their versatility makes them valuable in various technological and scientific endeavors.
Factory Standard
Material | LaSF N9, grade A, fine annealed optical glass |
Wavelength | 450–2300 nm, uncoated |
Refractive Index | n830 = 1.83098, n1300 = 1.81764, n1550 = 1.81329 |
Diameter Tolerance | ±1 µm |
Spherical Tolerance | ≤ λ/4 at 587.6 nm |
Antireflection Coating | Single-layer MgF2, R ≤0.25% at the coating design wavelength |
Avantier Inc. offers Microspheres as custom optical components that can be manufactured according to varying needs. Please contact us if you’d like to schedule a consultation or request for a quote on your next project.
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