Asphericon AFL50-80-P-U Fused Silica Aspheric Lens

Overview

The Asphericon AFL50-80-P-U is a high-precision fused silica aspheric lens engineered for demanding laser beam shaping, collimation, and focusing applications in research, industrial metrology, and photonics systems. Designed using advanced non-spherical surface geometry, this lens eliminates spherical aberration inherent in conventional spherical optics—enabling diffraction-limited performance across its specified spectral range. Its fused silica substrate provides exceptional UV transmission, low thermal expansion (α ≈ 0.55 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹), and high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT), making it suitable for pulsed and continuous-wave (CW) lasers operating from deep UV (240 nm) to near-IR (1500 nm). The lens conforms to ISO 10110-5 surface form tolerances and is manufactured via deterministic CNC grinding and magnetorheological finishing (MRF), ensuring sub-nanometer surface roughness and wavefront fidelity.

Key Features

• Precision-grade fused silica substrate with certified homogeneity and bubble-free volume (per ISO 14889)
• Aspheric surface figure accuracy: RMSi < 500 nm, Wavefront RMS < 235 nm (measured at design wavelength of 285 nm)
• Optimized for high-energy laser systems: LIDT > 10 J/cm² @ 1064 nm, 10 ns pulse, 10 Hz (tested per ISO 21254-1)
• Standard anti-reflection (AR) coating options—including broadband (Coating B: 600–1050 nm, R_avg ≤ 0.4%) and V-coatings (e.g., Coating M: 1064 nm, R < 0.25%)—applied via ion-beam sputtering (IBS) for high environmental stability
• Available in three quality tiers: Precision (P), Ultra-Precision (U), and BeamTuning (D)—each traceably certified with interferometric test reports (Zygo Verifire or equivalent)
• Full optical design support: Zemax (.zmx), CodeV (.cvd), OSLO (.osl), VirtualLab Fusion (.vlf), and STEP (.stp) files available for download upon order confirmation

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The AFL50-80-P-U is compatible with standard optomechanical mounts (e.g., SM2-threaded lens tubes, kinematic mirror mounts with Ø50 mm clear aperture adapters) and integrates seamlessly into OEM laser platforms, adaptive optics testbeds, and ultrafast amplifier compressors. All lenses are supplied with individual calibration certificates compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, including traceable metrology data from accredited laboratories (DAkkS or UKAS). Surface quality meets MIL-PRF-13830B (20–20 scratch-dig), and coating durability satisfies ISO 9211-4 for abrasion and humidity resistance. For regulated environments (e.g., medical laser systems or aerospace instrumentation), documentation supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compliant audit trails when paired with Asphericon’s certified software tools.

Software & Data Management

Asphericon provides full digital twin integration through its Optical Component Data Portal (OCDP), granting registered users secure access to interferometric surface maps, point-spread function (PSF) simulations, modulation transfer function (MTF) curves, and tolerance analysis reports. Export formats include ASCII height maps (.xyz), Zernike coefficient sets, and GD&T-annotated STEP models for mechanical integration. All optical design files are compatible with industry-standard simulation environments—including Zemax OpticStudio, Synopsys CODE V, and LightTools—and include parameterized variables for sensitivity analysis and tolerance stacking per ISO 10110-7. Firmware-agnostic metadata tagging ensures long-term archival compliance with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles.

Applications

• Ultrafast laser beam delivery: compression gratings alignment, stretcher-amplifier coupling, and pulse front tilt correction
• High-power fiber laser collimation (e.g., Yb-doped fiber sources at 1064 nm, kW-class CW systems)
• UV lithography illumination homogenization and mask projection optics
• Free-space quantum communication terminals requiring minimal wavefront distortion over extended path lengths
• Interferometric metrology reference optics and null lenses for aspheric testing (e.g., null corrector configurations in Fizeau or Twyman-Green setups)
• Space-qualified optical benches where thermal stability and radiation hardness are critical (fused silica meets ECSS-Q-ST-70-02C outgassing specifications)

FAQ

What does the “P-U” suffix indicate in the model number AFL50-80-P-U?

The “P” denotes Precision grade (RMSi < 500 nm), while “U” specifies the substrate material—fused silica—as distinct from S-LAH64 (a|High-NA) or N-BK7 (a|Low-NA) variants.
Is this lens suitable for 355 nm UV laser applications?

Yes—when ordered with Coating K (R < 0.25% @ 355 nm) or Coating X (240–380 nm broadband), and operated within specified power density limits (consult LIDT report for your pulse duration and repetition rate).
Can I request custom center thickness or edge clearance?

Yes—Asphericon offers rapid-turnaround customization including mechanical dimensions, mounting features (e.g., kinematic flats, threaded barrels), and bespoke coating stacks under NRE-supported engineering change orders (ECOs).
Do you provide ISO 17025-accredited test reports?

Each lens ships with a certificate of conformance including interferometric wavefront data, surface roughness (measured via AFM per ISO 25178), and coating spectral reflectance (measured on PerkinElmer Lambda 1050+). Full accreditation is available upon request for batch-certified orders.
How quickly can I receive this lens if ordered today?

AFL50-80-P-U is held in active stock at Asphericon’s German distribution hub; standard lead time is 3–5 business days for EU delivery and 7–10 days for transatlantic shipments, excluding customs clearance.