Optical Prisms

Optical Prisms

Optical Prisms are used to divide or disperse light beams. Prisms are polyhedra made of transparent materials and are important optical components. As a professional optical prisms supplier, RZ Optics could provide Right Angle Prism, Dove Prism, Right angle Roof Prism, Rhomboid Prism, Dispersion Prism, Non-Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters, Retroreflector, Penta Prism and wedge prisms.

Classification of Optical Prisms

According to the shape of the main cross section can be divided into trigonal prisms, right-angle prisms, pentagonal prisms, etc. The main cross section of a prism is triangular, with two refractive surfaces, the angle between which is called the top angle, and the plane opposite the top angle is the bottom plane. According to the law of refraction, light passing through a prism will be twice deflected to the bottom surface, and the angle q between the incident light and the outgoing light is called the deflection angle. Its magnitude is determined by the refractive index n of the prismatic medium and the angle of incidence i. When i is fixed, different wavelengths of light have different deflection angles, and the largest deflection angle in visible light is violet light, and the smallest is red light. 
Prisms can also be divided into several types according to their nature and use. For example, in the spectroscopic instrument to the composite light into the spectrum of the "dispersion prism", more commonly used is equilateral prism; in the periscope, binocular telescope and other instruments to change the direction of light, so as to adjust its imaging position called "total reflection prism", are generally Right-angle prisms are used. Learn more