ZnSe (Zinc Selenide) plano-convex lenses are essential optical elements manufactured from high-purity chemical vapor deposition (CVD) laser-grade material. Designed with one flat surface and one spherical convex surface, these lenses exhibit exceptionally low bulk absorption and high transmission in the infrared spectrum, making them the industry standard for focusing collimated beams or collimating point sources in high-power infrared systems. Technical Applications & Industrial Use Cases
Due to their outstanding thermal properties, minimal phase distortion, and robust optical transmission in the 8 to 12 micrometer wavelength range, ZnSe plano-convex lenses are widely deployed across demanding sectors:
  • High-Power CO2 Laser Systems: Act as primary focusing lenses in industrial CO2 laser cutting, welding, and marking machines operating at 10.6 micrometers.
  • Thermal Imaging & Sensing: Utilized in thermal cameras, infrared detectors, and optical pyrometers requiring precise focal stability across the mid-to-far infrared bands.
  • Medical & Scientific Instrumentation: Deployed in infrared spectroscopy and medical laser delivery assemblies where beam waist minimization and thermal lens mitigation are critical.

Key Specifications & Performance Advantages

  • Material: CVD Laser-Grade Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) optimized for high-power infrared applications.
  • Design Wavelength: Engineered specifically for 10.6 micrometer laser systems with strict focal length tolerance.
  • Surface Quality: High-precision 60-40 scratch-dig with tight centration tolerance (< 3 arcmin) and protective chamfers.
  • Coating Options: Available uncoated or featuring specialized low-absorption infrared anti-reflective (IR2) coatings (average reflectance < 1.5% across 8 to 12 micrometers) to maximize throughput.