Plano-Concave Lenses

Name: Plano-Concave Lenses
Brand: PhotonEdge
SKU: PE-LENS-PCV-003
Availability: LimitedAvailability

Key Specifications

Material	N-BK7 (K9)
Diameter	5-75 mm
Focal Length	-5 to -500 mm
Wavelength	350-2000 nm
Surface Quality	40-20 / 20-10
Flatness	λ/4 @ 632.8nm
Clear Aperture	> 90%
Coatings	AR coatings available

What Is a Plano-Concave Lenses?

A plano-concave lens has one flat surface and one concave (curved inward) surface. It is a negative focal length lens that diverges incoming light, causing parallel rays to spread apart as if originating from a virtual focal point.

Plano-concave lenses are essential for beam expansion, laser beam divergence control, and as diverging elements in compound optical systems such as Galilean telescopes and beam expanders.

When Should You Use This Product?

✔ Good Choice When

✓ Beam expansion in laser systems
✓ Creating diverging beams from collimated sources
✓ Galilean telescope and beam expander designs
✓ Compensating for convergence in multi-element systems

⚠ Consider an Alternative When

✗ Symmetric divergence needed → Bi-Concave Lens

✗ Chromatic correction needed → Achromatic Doublet (negative)

✗ Focusing rather than diverging → Plano-Convex Lens

✗ UV wavelengths → UV Fused Silica Plano-Concave

Available Optical Materials

Select the optimal substrate material based on your wavelength, environment, and budget requirements.

Material	Transmission	Key Advantage	Considerations
N-BK7	VIS / NIR (350-2000nm)	General-purpose, low cost, good homogeneity	Not suitable for UV < 350nm
UV Fused Silica	UV / VIS / NIR (185-2100nm)	Excellent UV transmission, low absorption, high LIDT	Higher cost than BK7
CaF₂	Deep UV / VIS / IR (130-7800nm)	Broadest transmission range, low refractive index	Fragile, higher cost
Sapphire	UV / VIS / NIR (150-5500nm)	Extremely hard (9H), scratch resistant	Birefringent, higher refractive index

Not sure which material to choose?

Ask AI Optical Engineer

Optical Coating Options

AR 350-650nm

Broadband AR for visible range. R < 0.5% per surface.

Typical use: General visible laser and imaging

AR 650-950nm

AR for NIR range (780nm, 808nm, 850nm diodes).

Typical use: NIR laser diode collimation and fiber coupling

AR 950-1250nm

AR for 1064nm and nearby wavelengths.

Typical use: Nd:YAG and fiber laser systems

BBAR

Low reflection across 400-1000nm broadband.

Typical use: Multispectral applications

Uncoated

Raw glass surface. ~4% reflection per surface.

Typical use: Non-critical applications

How to Specify Your Coating

To select the right coating, please provide: (1) Operating wavelength, (2) Angle of incidence, (3) Required transmission or reflectivity, (4) Laser power density (if applicable), (5) Operating environment.

Engineering Considerations

Key factors to evaluate when specifying this optical component for your system.

Orientation

Orient the concave surface toward the shortest conjugate distance to minimize spherical aberration.

Beam Expansion Ratio

Determined by the ratio of focal lengths in a beam expander. Pair with a positive lens for desired magnification.

Edge Considerations

Plano-concave lenses have thin edges. Handle carefully to avoid chipping.

Combination Use

Often paired with positive lenses in beam expanders, telescopes, and relay systems.

Have a Custom Optical Requirement?

Upload your drawing or describe your specification. Our engineering team will review and respond within 24 hours with a detailed quotation.

Upload Drawing / RFQ Ask AI Optical Engineer

Applications

Laser Systems

Beam delivery, focusing, and conditioning for industrial and scientific laser systems.

Semiconductor

Wafer inspection, lithography support, and process control optics.

Machine Vision

Image formation in inspection systems and quality control cameras.

Research & Education

Laboratory optics, teaching setups, and experimental beam paths.

Manufacturing & Customization

PhotonEdge supports optical component sourcing, engineering review, and qualified manufacturing through our optical manufacturing network. We coordinate production, coating, and inspection to deliver components that meet your specifications.

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Prototype

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Low Volume

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Volume Production

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Custom Specification

Quality Assurance

Dimensional Inspection

Diameter, thickness, focal length verified per specification

Surface Quality

Scratch-dig inspection under calibrated illumination

Coating Verification

Spectrophotometric measurement of transmission/reflectance

Inspection documentation available according to project requirements. Certificates of Conformance, material test reports, and coating curves can be provided.

You May Also Need

Related Knowledge

Engineering Documentation

The following documentation is available upon request for qualified engineering projects:

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Dimensional Drawing

CAD & dimensional specs per your requirements

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Material Data Sheet

Material properties, transmission curves & certificates

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Coating Performance Curve

Spectrophotometric measurement data

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Inspection Report

Surface quality, flatness, centration & dimensional data

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Certificate of Conformance

CoC with full traceability per project requirements

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Custom Specification Sheet

Application-specific specification documentation

Documentation availability depends on project scope and order quantity. Request details during RFQ.

Ordering Information

Price Range

See Quote

Standard Lead Time

Ships within 1 week after payment

Custom Lead Time

Subject to engineering evaluation

MOQ

1 Piece

Samples

Available

Contact us for exact pricing based on your specifications.

Specification Parameters

Typical Specifications shown on this page are standard capabilities. Available Options include alternative materials and coatings. Custom Specifications are available per your drawing. Requirements beyond standard capability are marked Subject to Engineering Review.

Get a Quote Full Ordering Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials are available for this lens type?

We offer multiple substrate materials including N-BK7, UV Fused Silica, CaF₂, and Sapphire depending on your wavelength and environmental requirements.

Can I order custom specifications?

Yes. PhotonEdge offers custom diameters, focal lengths, coatings, and surface qualities. Custom specifications typically require 4-6 weeks lead time, subject to change based on order specifics.

What surface quality should I specify?

40-20 is suitable for most laser and imaging applications. 20-10 is recommended for precision systems where scattering must be minimized.

What coating do I need?

The coating depends on your operating wavelength. For visible applications, AR 350-650nm is standard. For NIR lasers, choose the coating matching your wavelength. Uncoated is suitable for non-critical applications.

Do you provide inspection reports?

Yes. Dimensional reports, surface quality verification, and coating performance data are available according to project requirements.

How do I request a quote?

Click the 'Request a Quote' button and provide your diameter, focal length, wavelength, coating, surface quality, and quantity.

What is a plano-concave lens used for?

Beam expansion, divergence control, and as a negative element in compound optical systems like beam expanders and telescopes.

Not Sure Which Specification You Need?

Describe your optical system and our AI Optical Engineer will help identify the right specifications, materials, and coatings for your application.

Analyze My Requirement

Request a Quote

Provide your requirements and our engineering team will respond within 24 hours with a detailed quotation.

MaterialDiameterFocal LengthWavelengthSurface QualityFlatnessClear ApertureCoatings

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