Conical (Cone) Lenses (Axicons, Cone Prisms)

Conical Lenses (Axicons): description, purpose and production

What is an Axicon (Conical Lens)?

An axicon (also known as a conical lens or sometimes - cone prism) is a specialized optical lens characterized by its conical shape. While traditional lenses have spherical (convex, concave) or cylindrical (convex, concave) curvature, Alien Photonics axicons have a cone-shaped surface. That surface allows to converge or diverge laser beam into a ring or a near-non-diffracting beam, depending on the configuration. This unique property arises from the axicon's ability to refract light rays at constant angles across its surface, leading to the formation of beams with highly specific spatial characteristics.

What is the main function of the Axicon?

Conical lens main function (purpose) is to effectively convert laser beam to ring-shaped beam or Bessel beam.

a) Axicons for Bessel beam generation

Axicons primary function is to generate Bessel beams, which are notable for their non-diffracting and self-healing properties. Such beams maintain their intensity profile and diameter over long distances, unlike conventional Gaussian beams, which spread out due to diffraction.

b) Axicons for ring-shaped beam generation

Additionally, Alien Photonics axicons can be used to create ring-shaped beams. These beams are useful in applications like optical trapping, microscopy, and laser drilling or cutting. The ability to produce these beams makes axicons invaluable in research and industrial settings where controlling light with high precision is necessary.

How Axicons are made?

Like aspheric lenses (aspheres), Alien Photonics axicons are produced with CNC (Computer Numerical Control) polishing method. This process starts with a precisely shaped piece of optical-grade blank (usually UVFS or other). Then it is machined into a rough conical shape using CNC milling tools. Following this, the surface of the axicon undergoes CNC polishing. This process removes surface irregularities and achieves the desired optical quality and surface finish. The precise control with CNC technology allows for the production of axicons with very specific apex angles.

Conical Lenses (Axicons) for micromachining, research, semiconductor production and other applications

Conical lenses (Axicons) can be used in optical communications, structured illumination microscopy, medical devices, even laser light shows and many more applications.

Axicons for micromachining

Axicons generate a non-diffracting Bessel beam to perform high-precision material processing in laser machining system to achieve precise drilling, cutting, and ablation of materials.

Conical lenses for research and development of nonlinear optics

Axicons generate high-intensity Bessel beams to facilitate nonlinear optics experiments to achieve the study of materials under intense light fields. The uniform, high-intensity profile of Bessel beams is ideal for inducing nonlinear optical effects, such as second-harmonic generation or multiphoton absorption, in various materials. This application allows scientists to explore the properties of materials at a fundamental level, leading to potential breakthroughs in photonics and materials science.

Axicons lenses for semiconductor manufacturing

Alien Photonics conical lenses help to generate uniform ring-shaped beams for localized heating in to achieve controlled modification of semiconductor materials. The precise control over the size and intensity of the ring allows for uniform thermal processing of semiconductor wafers, enhancing the performance of electronic devices by improving material properties without damaging adjacent areas. This application is vital in the manufacturing of high-performance semiconductor devices, including transistors and integrated circuits.