Edmund Optics^®

Master the fundamentals of ultrafast lasers and how to choose optics that can withstand their high powers and short pulse durations.

The short pulse durations of ultrafast lasers make them interact with optical components differently, impacting the optic’s laser damage threshold.

Understanding the most commonly used laser optics materials will allow for easy navigation of EO’s wide selection of laser optics components.

Lasers can be used for a variety of applications. Learn how lasers work, different elements, and the differences between laser types at Edmund Optics.

An understanding of refraction and basic ray optics is a critical foundation for understanding more complicated optical concepts and technologies.

Overspecifying optical losses in laser systems will not further improve your performance or reliability, but it could cost you additional money and/or time.

Learn the basics of telescope theory and how to construct different types of telescopes.

Laser Optics for 2μm lasers require very specific types of materials such as fused silica and germanium. Learn more at Edmund Optics.

Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are IR lasers that utilize tens or hundreds of quantum wells to decouple the emission wavelength from the bandgap energy.

UV Lenses require extremely tight tolerances and novel materials such as sapphire. Learn more at Edmund Optics.

The LIDT of continuous wave (CW) lasers is dependent on laser power, beam diameter, and other use parameters.

Understanding the polarization of laser light is critical for many applications, as polarization impacts reflectance, focusing the beam, and other key behaviors.

Advances in laser technology have made it possible to produce pulses ranging from a few femtoseconds to tens of attoseconds. Learn more at Edmund Optics.

Superpolished optics with ultra-low surface roughness minimize scatter in optical systems, which is critical in sensitive laser applications.

Light is absorbed in optical media through several methods including exciting electrons to higher energy states and converting to thermal energy

Have a question about adaptive optics or deformable mirrors? Learn more on understanding wavefronts, adaptive optics theory, and more at Edmund Optics.

Looking for the best way to clean optics? Learn more about the different cleaning products and methods, along with tips to handle optics at Edmund Optics.

Metrology is critical for ensuring that optical components consistently meet their desired specifications, especially in laser applications.

Are standard beam expanders not meeting your application requirements? Learn how to design your own beam expander using stock optics at Edmund Optics.

Looking for application examples? Find examples for Detector Systems, Selecting the Right Lens, and Building a Projection System at Edmund Optics.

Understanding the most common laser sources, modes of operation, and gain media provides the context for selecting the proper laser for your specific application.

Laser Induced Damage Threshold describes the maximum quantity of laser radiation an optic can take before damaging. Learn more at Edmund Optics.

Have a time or budget restraint? Check out these tips and advantages for designing applications with standard, off-the-shelf optics at Edmund Optics.

With over 65 optical glass types readily available at manufacturing sites, EO enables quick prototyping. View the full list of glass types at Edmund Optics.

Not all optical components are tested for laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) and testing methods differ, resulting in different types of LIDT specifications.

Have a question about theoretical foundations? Find out more about the electromagnetic spectrum, interference, reflection, and more at Edmund Optics.

The short pulse durations of ultrafast lasers lead to broad wavelength bandwidths, making ultrafast systems especially susceptible to dispersion and pulse broadening.

Do you use ray tracing on a regular basis? Learn more about the calculations aspect, along with steps and software at Edmund Optics.

Power density, energy density, fluence, and irradiance are often incorrectly used in laser optics applications. Learn the correct definitions and usage.

UV grade fused silica is ideal for UV and visible applications, but IR grade fused silica has better transmission in the IR due to a lack of OH- impurities.