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Photonics Dictionary

achromatic prism

An achromatic prism is a type of prism designed to separate white light into its component colors (spectrum) without causing chromatic aberration. Unlike regular prisms, which disperse light but also cause different colors to focus at different points due to their differing refractive indices, achromatic prisms are engineered to reduce or eliminate this dispersion-induced color separation.


To achieve this, achromatic prisms typically consist of two or more prism elements made from materials with different dispersive properties. By carefully selecting these materials and their geometry, achromatic prisms can effectively minimize chromatic aberration. This makes them valuable in optical applications where accurate color separation and minimal distortion are crucial, such as in spectroscopy and various scientific instruments.
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