Stock Available
Bespoke Ordering Available
Contact us now
Find out more about our custom axicon lenses
Call +44 (0)1622 859444 Call +1 401 583 7846
Knight Optical presents a bespoke range of axicon lenses designed to create Bessel beams with precision.
Our axicon lens selection, including both custom and standard options, transforms collimated light into a non-diffractive ring, maintaining consistent width while its diameter expands with distance. The size of this ring is determined by the lens’s refractive index, the alpha angle (α), and its distance from the apex to the image plane.
We specialise in axicon optics, offering axicon lenses in materials like UV fused silica and Schott BK7, with alternatives such as zinc selenide for NIR and IR applications. Our axicon lenses price is competitive, reflecting the high-quality and customisation we provide.
Knight Optical’s expertise in custom optical services is backed by years of industry experience. For those looking to buy axicon lens options tailored to your specific needs, we’re here to assist.
Speak to our experts about your Custom Axicon Lenses needs today
Call +44 (0)1622 859444 Call +1 401 583 7846Make a quick enquiry about Custom Axicon Lenses Now
Dive into the forefront of optical solutions. Got questions about an optical product? Reach out now and let our expertise guide you.
Optical Properties of Axicon Lenses
Our typical manufacturing capabilities can be found below, and a range of glass types are available including Schott (and equivalent) materials.
| Diameter (mm) | 3 to 300mm+ |
|---|---|
| Alpha angle (α) | 0.5° to 40° |
| Form Error (lambda) | < 0.25 |
|---|---|
| Scratch/dig | < 60/40 |
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What are axicon lenses and how do they work?
-
Axicon lenses, also known as conical lenses or axicons, are specialised optics designed to transform a light beam into a ring-shaped pattern. Unlike traditional lenses that focus light to a point, an axicon lens’s conical geometry refracts light to form a ring of light along the optical axis. This unique feature makes axicon lenses ideal for applications requiring precision drilling, medical imaging, and optical trapping.
-
What is the focal length of an axicon lens and why does it matter?
-
The focal length of an axicon lens refers to the distance from the lens to the point where the ring of light begins to form. Unlike traditional lenses, axicon lenses create a continuous light ring whose size can be adjusted by changing the lens’s position relative to the light source. Understanding the focal length is crucial for accurately positioning the axicon lens in optical systems, ensuring optimal performance in applications like laser machining and optical coherence tomography.
-
How can I find out the price of axicon lenses?
-
To find out the price of axicon lenses, you can visit Knight Optical’s website or contact their sales team directly. Prices for axicon lenses vary based on specifications such as diameter, material, and surface quality. Here at Knight Optical we offer competitive pricing and custom solutions to meet specific application requirements, ensuring you get the best value for your optical components.
-
Where can I buy axicon lenses for sale?
-
Axicon lenses are available for sale here at Knight Optical. We provide a wide range of axicon lenses suitable for various applications, from scientific research to industrial use. You can contact our expert sales team for assistance in selecting the right axicon lens for your project. We pride ourselves on offering high-quality optics tailored to your custom needs.
-
What applications benefit from using axicon lenses?
-
Axicon lenses are used in a variety of applications, including laser beam shaping, optical trapping, medical imaging, and even in creating Bessel beams for precision drilling and microscopy. Their unique ability to produce a non-diffracting light ring makes them invaluable in fields requiring precise control over light distribution and minimal light scatter.
-
How do axicon lenses compare to other optical components?
-
Axicon lenses offer unique advantages over traditional optical components due to their ability to create ring-shaped light patterns. While standard lenses focus light to a point, axicons distribute light in a circular fashion, opening up new possibilities for optical design and application. This makes them particularly useful in specialised fields such as laser surgery, photonics research, and industrial machining, where precision and control over light propagation are paramount.
Is your question not here?
We are ready and waiting to answer any queries you may have about axicon lenses.
Additional Information
Positive and Negative Designs
Axicon lenses are available in both positive and negative designs, depending on the convexity or concavity of the conical surface.
Rotational Symmetry
They act as rotationally symmetric prisms, altering the trajectory of incoming light.
180° Angle
The cone (or apex) angle is defined as 180° -2a.
Coatings
Antireflective (AR) Coatings
Knight Optical can also enhance your axicon lens with optical coatings to boost transmission or diminish surface reflections. Our antireflective (AR) coatings, including broadband options, are tailored to optimise lens performance across specific wavebands.
Quality Assurance
Angle Precision
Knight Optical guarantees the apex angle precision of each axicon lens using our Starrett AV300. Surface form error and optical characteristics like transmission and reflection are meticulously evaluated using our Zygo Verifire XPZ and Agilent Cary 7000 Spectrophotometer, ensuring top-tier quality.
Typical Applications
Ophthalmic solutions
Our axicon lenses are perfect for applications such as laser eye surgery, where both a positive and negative axicon lens are used, to shape the cornea.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Using an axicon lens can produce a superior lateral resolution over longer focus depths.
Astronomy
Knight Optical’s axicon lenses are ideal for applications such as telescopes where replacing a typical spherical lens with an axicon lens allows for deeper depth of focus.
Atom Trapping
In atom trapping, axicon lenses bend laser beams into intense rings, attracting atoms inwards while pushing them away from the edges. This creates a central “sweet spot” where carefully balanced forces trap the atoms. Despite limitations, axicon traps offer simplicity and control over the trapping geometry, making them valuable tools for cooling, manipulating, and studying atom clouds.
Laser Research
In laser research, axicon lenses transform regular laser beams into ring-shaped “Bessel beams.” These unique beams offer several advantages, allowing scientists to probe deeper into materials, manipulate microscopic particles with high precision, and study material properties under extreme conditions. This versatility makes axicons valuable tools for diverse research areas, from atomic traps to surface-wave spectroscopy.
Capabilities
Get in touch with us:
With our in-house state-of-the-art metrology laboratory you can be confident that your optical components will meet your requirements. You can find out more about our testing facilities here.
Operating for over 30 years
Knight Optical has been operating for over 30 years, with our managing director Colin Overton at the helm. Over this time, we have become a global leader in the production and distribution of scientific optical components and bringing quality into focus for all of our products and services that we provide.
Our Catalogue
Inside Knight Optical’s catalogue you’ll find details of the industries we serve as well as the many other services we can offer. It also showcases hundreds of our most popular products, supported by useful technical information, to help you choose the right part for your application.
Click below to view our digital catalogue now.