Täysheijastuspeilejä

Täysheijastuspeilejä, known in English as total internal reflection mirrors, are optical components designed to reflect light with extremely high efficiency, approaching 100%. This high reflectivity is achieved by exploiting the phenomenon of total internal reflection. Unlike conventional mirrors that use a reflective coating like silver or aluminum on a substrate, a täysheijastuspeili relies on the optical properties of two materials with different refractive indices in contact.

When light travels from a medium with a higher refractive index to a medium with a lower refractive index, and the angle of incidence exceeds a critical angle, the light is completely reflected back into the denser medium. Täysheijastuspeilejä are typically constructed by optically cementing or pressing together two prisms or a prism and a flat plate made of materials like high-quality glass or specialized plastics. The interface between these materials is precisely controlled to ensure that light entering from the high-refractive-index side at angles greater than the critical angle undergoes total internal reflection.

These mirrors are highly valued in optical systems where minimal light loss is crucial. Applications include laser systems, optical instruments like microscopes and telescopes, beam splitters, and specialized imaging devices. Their primary advantage is their exceptional reflectivity, which remains constant over a wide range of wavelengths and angles of incidence, as long as the conditions for total internal reflection are met. They are also durable and resistant to degradation compared to metallic coatings, making them suitable for demanding environments.