Dove Prisms

Dove prisms enable image rotation, inversion and retroreflection. Rotated about the longitudinal axis, the image rotates at double the prism’s angle.

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Description:

Dove prisms enable image rotation, inversion and retroreflection. Rotated about the longitudinal axis, the image rotates at double the prism’s angle. Light creates inversion via total internal reflection when entering smaller diagonal faces, and retroreflection when hitting the longest face. Optimized for collimated light, these prisms have a ground top and a sharp unbeveled edge.

Parameters	Specification
Material	Optical Glasses, Fused Silica, Infrared Material, etc.
Dimension Range	0.3~400mm
Dimension Tolerance	+0/-0.01mm
Surface Quality	20-10
PV	λ/ 10
Angle Tolerance	＜ 30"
Clear Aperture	> 90% of diameter
Bevel	0.2 mm x 45°
Coating	As customer's request

How do Dove prisms perform optically?

Dove prisms are essentially modified right-angle prisms without the triangular apex. This design cuts down overall weight and suppresses unwanted internal stray reflections. These optical components may cause astigmatism when paired with converging light, so collimated light is highly recommended for optimal performance. Besides, they will alter the polarization of passing light rays.

Applications of Dove Prisms in Modern Optics
Dove prisms provide capabilities beyond basic image inversion and polarization control. As core components in various optical systems, they are widely applied in precision instruments, laser beam steering and quantum computing research — areas requiring precise light manipulation. Maintaining stable beam alignment while reorienting images, they are essential to telescopic systems for astronomical observations and satellite imaging.