Edmund Optics has introduced its Techspec germanium meniscus lenses. These lenses feature a durable design that is ideal for use in a wide variety of infrared applications, including IR imaging or surveillance, remote sensing or IR spectroscopy.
The lenses are manufactured from germanium, which is a rugged, durable material with a broad transmission range and a high index of refraction. Germanium has a transmission range of 2-16μm and is opaque in the visible part of the spectrum, making it ideal for IR laser applications. The material is inert to air, water, alkalis, and all acids, with the exception of nitric acid. With a density of 5.33g/cm3 and a Knoop Hardness of 780, nearly twice that of magnesium fluoride, germanium is an ideal material for making rugged, durable IR optics.
The lenses offer outstanding spherical correction and smaller spot size than comparable lenses. They are available uncoated or anti-reflection coated for increased performance in the designated coating wavelength range. Eighteen different RoHS-compliant lens varieties are offered in 25mm or 50mm diameters and focal lengths from 25mm to 100mm, either uncoated or coated for the 3-5μm or 8-12μm wavelength range.
