RGB beam combining with prism?

with a prism it cannot be coated so there will be a big loss.

with dichros they are coated for each lasers so little losses

You're wrong there. Not saying its a good idea to use a prism by any means, but they can in fact be coated

NEW LOT OF TEN EXCELLENT 12MM X11MM COATED WEDGE PRISMS

Keep in mind prisms require pretty big distances to separate colors. I'm talking on the order of 10 feet or more to separate colors by only a cm or two

I suppose thats the main reason dichros are preferable for practical use.

Theoretically a prism separating light into its colors is a perfectly reversible optical system, so that prism can be used to combine colors as well.

Gratings are not likely to work, as they will split the beam up into many smaller beams. It would be possible to get a combined beam out of one, but most power will be lost in the stray beams.

The 17% power loss figure seems reasonable - i assume that prism is uncoated, and it will lose a couple of percent on both the light entering and exeting. With the distance from the lasers added it, it seems acceptable... apart from the size of the setup

Those distances seem to make the whole system a little impractical.

Cyparagon said:

You're wrong there. Not saying its a good idea to use a prism by any means, but they can in fact be coated

NEW LOT OF TEN EXCELLENT 12MM X11MM COATED WEDGE PRISMS

Click to expand...

the most pointless auction ever!! coated for what wavelength??

with dichros so cheap i dont understand why you would want to use something different?

MarioMaster said:

Keep in mind prisms require pretty big distances to separate colors. I'm talking on the order of 10 feet or more to separate colors by only a cm or two

Click to expand...

I've already said and proven that.

Benm said:

Theoretically a prism separating light into its colors is a perfectly reversible optical system, so that prism can be used to combine colors as well.

Click to expand...

What do you mean theoretically? I've DONE it :na:

andy_con said:

the most pointless auction ever!! coated for what wavelength??

Click to expand...

Ever heard of a broadband coating?

andy_con said:

with dichros so cheap i dont understand why you would want to use something different?

Click to expand...

Firstly, I doubt you can find me a set of dicros for under a dollar. Secondly no one really wants to use something different to begin with, except to prove it can be done.

C'mon guys, read the thread before you post.

I second Cyparagon's post.

This has been a great read, informative, Thanks.....

Sorry, I can't always read everything