The cross-section of a cylindrical lens is a cylindrical shape with two arcs or one arc and one line. Cylindrical lenses have different radii on the X and Y axes, therefore they have a cylindrical or semi cylindrical shape. So what are the optical characteristics of cylindrical lenses?
Refractive performance
The refractive performance is significant in the direction perpendicular to the axis, while there is no bending effect in the direction parallel to the axis. When the light is perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical lens, it will converge or diverge, while it will not in the direction parallel to the axis.
focal length
The focal length is limited in the direction perpendicular to the axis, and there is no clear focal length in the direction parallel to the axis. This is because cylindrical lenses only have refractive power in specific directions.
Imaging characteristics
The imaging characteristics make it particularly suitable for situations that require linear images. In optical measurement or imaging systems, it may be necessary to image a line or edge clearly, and cylindrical lenses can provide such functionality.
Eliminating astigmatism
In some optical systems, such as telescopes or microscopes, astigmatism may occur due to the design of the objective or eyepiece. In this case, cylindrical lenses can be used to compensate for this astigmatism, thereby improving imaging quality.
Simplify the system
Due to the special properties of cylindrical lenses, the design of optical systems can be simplified in certain situations. For example, in some applications that require linear focusing, the use of cylindrical lenses can reduce the required number or complexity of lenses.
Spot shape
When a parallel beam passes through a cylindrical lens, an elliptical spot is formed in the direction perpendicular to the axis, while the shape of the beam is maintained in the direction parallel to the axis.
The above is an answer to the optical characteristics of cylindrical lenses. We hope it is helpful to you. If you have any questions, please feel free to consult or leave a message online.
