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Dispersing Prisms

Dispersing Prisms are optical components designed to separate light by its wavelength. When a light ray passes through the prism, it is twice refracted, and the deviation is a function of the refractive index, which corresponds to the wavelength of the light. These prisms are commonly used in applications requiring wavelength ...

Specifications

Material: BK7
Dimensions (A): 25 mm
Dimensions (L): 25 mm
Design Wavelength: 800 nm
Thickness: 10 mm
Dispersing Prisms are optical components used for wavelength separation applications. These prisms separate light by wavelength through double refraction. When a light ray passes through the prism, it is twice refracted, and the deviation is dependent on the refractive index, which is wavelength dependent. The prisms are available ...

Specifications

Material: BK7, UVFS, IRFS
Dimensions (A): 12.5 mm
Dimensions (L): 12.5 mm
Design Wavelength: Not Specified
Surface Quality: 40-20 scratch & dig
Rhomboid prisms are used to shift an incident beam without angular deviation or orientation change. In imaging applications, they will displace the optical centerline by the prism length “L” without inverting the image. These prisms are available both uncoated and coated. As top-ranked supplier of rhomboid prisms, Photonchina has ...

Specifications

Material: BK7, FS, UVFS, IRFS, CaF2, F2, N-SF11, ZnSe, Ge, Other
Dimensions (A): Not Specified
Dimensions (L): Not Specified

Dispersing Prisms: Precision Tools for Spectral Separation

Dispersing prisms are foundational optical components used to separate white light or multi-wavelength beams into their constituent spectral components. By leveraging the wavelength-dependent refractive properties of optical materials, these prisms enable precise control over beam dispersion and spectral analysis, making them indispensable in spectroscopy, laser tuning, and a wide range of optical instrumentation.

Unlike simple mirrors or lenses, dispersing prisms exploit the physical principle that different wavelengths of light are refracted—or bent—by different amounts when passing through a material. This effect, known as dispersion, allows a single incoming beam to be split into its component colors, revealing valuable spectral information or enabling wavelength-specific manipulation.

How Dispersing Prisms Work

Dispersing prisms are typically triangular in shape and made from optical glass with well-characterized dispersion properties, such as BK7, fused silica, or SF11. When light enters the prism, it slows down and bends due to the change in medium. Shorter wavelengths (like blue and violet) refract more than longer wavelengths (like red), causing the beam to spread out spatially according to wavelength.

There are several common types of dispersing prisms:

  • Equilateral Prisms: Provide moderate dispersion and are often used in educational and low-resolution applications.

  • Flint and Crown Glass Prisms: Used in combination to minimize or enhance dispersion effects.

  • Amici or Direct-Vision Prisms: Combine multiple prisms to achieve dispersion without significant beam deviation—ideal for compact spectroscopic setups.

The angle of deviation and degree of spectral spread depend on the prism material, geometry, and the wavelength range of the input light.

Key Applications of Dispersing Prisms

Dispersing prisms play a critical role in a wide variety of optical and scientific systems:

  • Spectroscopy: In both research and industry, dispersing prisms are used to separate light into its spectral components for material identification, chemical analysis, and environmental monitoring.

  • Laser Tuning: Tunable lasers often incorporate dispersing prisms in external cavity designs to select specific wavelengths or narrow the output linewidth.

  • Optical Communication: Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems use dispersing elements to separate and route multiple communication channels carried on different wavelengths.

  • Imaging and Sensing: Hyperspectral cameras and other advanced imaging tools rely on dispersing prisms to capture fine spectral detail across the visible and near-infrared spectrum.

  • Educational Demonstrations: Their ability to visually split white light into a rainbow makes dispersing prisms a staple in classroom demonstrations of optical principles.

Choosing the Right Dispersing Prism

When selecting a dispersing prism, consider the required wavelength range, angular dispersion, material transmission, and size for your setup. For high-resolution spectroscopy, prisms made from high-dispersion glass offer greater spectral separation. Anti-reflective coatings can also improve performance by reducing surface losses and unwanted reflections.

At FindLight, you’ll find a wide range of dispersing prisms suited for both laboratory and industrial applications. From basic equilateral glass prisms to precision-engineered components for laser systems, our platform connects you with top suppliers and detailed product specifications to help you make the right choice.

Explore Dispersing Prisms on FindLight

Ready to separate your beams with precision? Browse our collection of dispersing prisms today to find the right component for your optical system. Compare products, review technical specs, and request quotes—all in one place on FindLight.

Did You know?

Did you know dispersing prisms separate white light into its component colors by refraction? This property is fundamental to spectroscopy, where analyzing light spectra reveals material composition. Different prism materials and angles influence the degree of dispersion, enabling tailored spectral separation. Beyond science labs, dispersing prisms are vital in optical instruments like spectrometers, laser tuning devices, and wavelength selectors.