Dichroic Filter

A dichroic filter is a type of optical filter that selectively transmits light of a certain range of wavelengths while reflecting the other wavelengths. It works by using thin-film interference, which means that the light waves are reinforced or canceled depending on the thickness and number of layers of different materials on a glass substrate. A dichroic filter can produce highly saturated colors from a white light source, and it does not absorb the unwanted light, so it does not heat up as much as other filters.

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Major Specifications of Dichroic Filters

The major specifications of a dichroic filter are:

  • Cut-on wavelength: The wavelength at which the filter starts to transmit light.
  • Cut-off wavelength: The wavelength at which the filter stops to transmit light.
  • Transmission band: The range of wavelengths that the filter transmits with high efficiency.
  • Reflection band: The range of wavelengths that the filter reflects with high efficiency.
  • Transmission and reflection curves: The graphs that show how the transmission and reflection vary with wavelength.
  • Angle of incidence: The angle at which the light hits the filter. This affects the performance of the filter, as different angles may shift the cut-on and cut-off wavelengths.
  • Polarization: The orientation of the electric field of the light wave. Some filters are polarization insensitive, meaning they work for any polarization, while others are polarization sensitive, meaning they work differently for different polarizations.

Applications of Dichroic Filters

  • Fluorescence microscopy: Dichroic filters are used to separate the excitation light from the emission light in fluorescence microscopy, allowing for high contrast and sensitivity in imaging fluorescent molecules or cells
  • Flow cytometry: Dichroic filters are used to split the laser beam into different colors and direct them to different detectors in flow cytometry, allowing for simultaneous analysis of multiple parameters of cells or particles in a fluid stream2
  • Color separation: Dichroic filters are used to split white light into its primary colors (red, green, blue) or complementary colors (cyan, magenta, yellow) in color video projectors or color television cameras, allowing for high quality and resolution in color display or capture
  • Color enhancement: Dichroic filters are used to enhance or modify the color of light sources or objects in architectural or theatrical lighting, creating various effects or moods
  • Laser beam combining: Dichroic filters are used to combine multiple laser beams of different wavelengths into one beam without losing power or quality in laser applications such as spectroscopy or surgery

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