Uses of fluorite crystals

Besides telephoto lenses for interchangeable lens cameras, the chromatic aberration correction capabilities of fluorite crystals are widely used elsewhere. Examples include broadcast cameras, telescopes for astronomy, and other optical instruments and scientific equipment.

In July 2006, Canon Optron delivered 12 fluorite lenses of various sizes, including one nearly 40cm in diameter, to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in the United States. These lenses, made from synthetically crystalized fluorite, were the product of 5 years’ of no-effort-spared development and production by Canon Optron.

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory incorporated these lenses into Binospec, a sophisticated spectrograph. Thus, fluorite lenses played a part in observing light signals from 10 billion light years away, helping to unravel mysteries of the galaxy such as how stars were formed and how the Milky Way was developing.