OPTICAL PLANO-CONVEX LENSES

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Plano-convex lenses are used in many optical instruments including telescopes, collimators, magnifiers, radiometers, optical transceivers, and condensers.

Plano-convex lenses are always positive and are used to converge incident light. They form both real and virtual images and closely approach best-form for infinite and near-infinite conjugate ratios. They should always be mounted with the flat (plano) side facing the focal plane.

An uncoated lens can reflect up to eight percent of the incident light. To reduce this reflection, antireflection coatings are often added to both lens surfaces. Most plano-convex lenses are available with a variety of antireflection coatings.

	Plano-Convex Lenses
		Glass BK7
		UV Fused Silica
		Sapphire(Al2O3)
		Calcium Fluoride(CaF2)
		Zinc Selenide(ZnSe)
		Germanium(Ge)