Dichroic Mirrors for Optical Filtering and Beam Control
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Frequently Asked Questions
Technical Overview of Dichroic Mirrors
Dichroic Mirrors are optical filters designed for wavelength-selective reflection and transmission. Using thin-film interference coatings on glass or fused silica substrates, these components reflect a defined spectral band while transmitting others. In light transport systems, Dichroic Mirrors enable efficient beam routing, spectral splitting, and combining with minimal loss.
Common configurations include long-pass, short-pass, and bandpass Dichroic Mirrors, specified by cutoff or edge wavelength, transition steepness, and angle of incidence. Coatings are typically optimized for 45° incidence, but variants for 0°, 22.5°, or custom angles are also available to match specific optical layouts.
Typical Specifications and Performance Parameters
When evaluating Dichroic Mirrors on FindLight, consider these key specifications:
- Wavelength range: UV (200–400 nm), visible (400–700 nm), NIR (700–2500 nm), or custom bands.
- Reflection band (R-band): Central wavelength and bandwidth with typical reflectance >95–99%.
- Transmission band (T-band): High transmittance region with low optical density leakage.
- Transition edge: Cut-on / cut-off wavelength, edge steepness, and slope tolerance.
- Surface quality and flatness: e.g., 20-10 scratch-dig, λ/10 or λ/4 at 632.8 nm for imaging or beam-shaping applications.
- Damage threshold: Specified in J/cm² or W/cm² for pulsed and CW lasers.
- Angle of incidence and polarization: Performance for s-, p-, or unpolarized light at the design angle.
- Substrate and size: Material (e.g., fused silica, BK7), thickness, clear aperture, and mounting compatibility.
Use Cases and Buyer Guidance
Dichroic Mirrors are deployed in fluorescence microscopy, confocal systems, Raman setups, multi-wavelength laser combiners, pump/signal separation in lasers, and projection or display optics. In fiber and free-space light transport, they enable compact wavelength-division multiplexing and efficient beam steering.
On FindLight, you can compare Dichroic Mirrors from multiple manufacturers by wavelength range, reflection/transmission bands, laser damage threshold, and mechanical format to match your existing optomechanics. For laser-driven systems, align specifications with your pulse duration, repetition rate, and spot size to maintain adequate safety margins.
Once suitable Dichroic Mirrors are identified, use the platform to request quotes directly from suppliers, no registration is required. You can ask for coating curves, tolerance data, and integration notes to ensure compatibility with your optical design and performance targets.