New TECHSPEC® Precision Aspheric Lenses of UV Fused Silica combine the benefits of an aspheric element with the proprietary manufacturing precision of state-of-the-art grinding and polishing equipment. They feature low f-numbers for optimum light gathering and focusing performance, as well as a number of coating options, making them ideal for collecting and focusing low intensity UV sources including fluorescent dyes, fluorophores and mercury light sources.

The lenses are computer optimized to eliminate spherical aberration and minimize higher order aberrations. The UV fused silica substrate offers a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a high operating temperature, ideal for tightly toleranced applications in the visible as well as in the infrared. The lenses provide a clear aperture of 90%, and are manufactured to a 60-40 surface quality with a surface accuracy as low as 0.75 μm RMS and a diameter tolerance of +0.0/-0.1 mm.

The lenses are currently available with a 25mm diameter, at focal lengths of 25 and 30mm. Additional diameters, focal lengths, and coating options are scheduled to be released in early 2008.

Gregg Fales, Product Line Manager, explained that, “Edmund Optics®’ precision aspheres have been integrated into countless applications in the semiconductor, photonics, and defense industries. The introduction of our UV Precision Aspheres will provide similar design flexibility to system designers in the biophotonics and medical industries.”