Anamorphic Prisms for Laser and Imaging Systems

Did You Know?

The word "anamorphic" and its derivatives stem from the Greek words meaning formed again. Anamorphic prism pairs find its application where the profile of a beam is required to be altered or for changing the dimension of a beam in one dimension. This makes it ideal for converting the elliptical beam shape of laser diodes into a nearly circular one. Depending on the orientation of the prisms, the beam size may be either reduced or expanded and the amount of change is variable depending on the angular position of the prisms. The principle of beam shaping with anamorphic prism pairs is based on changes of the beam radius for refraction at flat prism interfaces. Anamorphic prisms can be purchased as single items, but also as mounted and properly aligned prism pairs, setups with rotatable mounts, where the prism orientations can be precisely realigned by the user.
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Frequently Asked Questions

An anamorphic prism (usually used in a prism pair) is an optical element that reshapes a beam’s aspect ratio by providing different magnifications along two orthogonal axes. By tilting the entrance and exit faces relative to the beam, the prism introduces different effective focal lengths in the tangential and sagittal planes, expanding or compressing the beam in one direction while leaving the orthogonal dimension largely unchanged.

What Are Anamorphic Prisms?

Anamorphic Prisms are paired prisms designed to transform a circular or elliptical beam into a different aspect ratio, typically compressing or expanding one axis. By using two prisms in series, users can reshape laser diode beams, fiber outputs, or imaging fields while maintaining high transmission and minimal wavefront distortion.

These Anamorphic Prisms operate on refraction and controlled angular deviation to provide a defined magnification ratio in one dimension. Typical designs use BK7, fused silica, or UV-grade fused silica to support visible or near-infrared wavelengths. Anti-reflection (AR) coatings are usually optimized for bands such as 405–700 nm, 633 nm, 780–850 nm, 980 nm, or 1064–1550 nm.

Typical Specifications and Use Cases

Key specifications for Anamorphic Prisms include:

  • Clear aperture and prism length (e.g., 5–20 mm) for beam diameter compatibility
  • Magnification or compression ratio (e.g., 1.5×, 2×, 3×) along a single axis
  • Material type (BK7, fused silica, CaF2) and refractive index tolerance
  • Surface quality (e.g., 20-10 or 40-20 scratch-dig) and flatness (λ/4 to λ/10)
  • AR coating wavelength range and residual reflectance (typically <0.5% per surface)
  • Damage threshold for high-power laser applications

Anamorphic Prisms are used in laser diode beam shaping, coupling into fibers or waveguides, aspect ratio control in imaging systems, and pre-conditioning beams for cylindrical optics or spatial light modulators.

Buyer Guidance on FindLight

When sourcing Anamorphic Prisms, compare the magnification ratio, clear aperture, and coating band with your laser wavelength and beam size. Confirm the material and damage threshold if you are working with pulsed or high CW power. Surface quality and wavefront error are critical for precision imaging or interferometric setups.

On FindLight you can review detailed datasheets for available Anamorphic Prisms, evaluate tolerances and coatings, and match them to your optical layout. Contact suppliers directly from the product pages to request pricing, customization options, and lead times. Quote requests do not require registration, streamlining procurement for R&D labs and OEM system designers.