Maintain Vision Where Conventional Optics Can Fail

Imaging systems operating in high-radiation environments face challenges far beyond those encountered in conventional machine vision applications.

Prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation can cause standard optical glass to gradually darken or discolor, an effect commonly known as radiation-induced browning. As transmission decreases, image brightness, contrast and overall optical performance can deteriorate.

Kowa radiation-resistant lenses are engineered specifically for these demanding environments. By incorporating specially selected radiation-resistant optical glass, they help suppress radiation-induced discoloration and maintain optical transmission over extended periods of exposure.

Built for the most demanding applications.

  • Nuclear Facilities

    Remote inspection, monitoring, maintenance and robotic imaging within radiation-controlled environments.

  • Space & Satellite Systems

    Optical systems exposed to radiation during long-duration operation beyond the protection of Earth's atmosphere.

  • Scientific Research

    Imaging equipment used around particle accelerators, radiation testing facilities and other specialist research environments.

Protecting Optical Transmission

Radiation can alter the optical properties of conventional glass over time. Energy deposited within the material can create microscopic defects that absorb portions of the visible spectrum, gradually causing the glass to darken.

For an imaging system, this can mean reduced transmission and increasingly compromised image quality.

Kowa radiation-resistant lenses use specially selected optical materials designed to suppress this discoloration effect. The result is an optical system better suited to maintaining usable transmission and imaging performance during prolonged operation in radiation-prone environments.

From nuclear facilities to space. Imaging Beyond Conventional Environments

Radiation-resistant optics have applications both on Earth and beyond it.

Inside nuclear and scientific facilities, cameras may be positioned in areas that are inaccessible during normal operation, making dependable remote imaging essential for inspection and monitoring.

In space, optical systems can face prolonged exposure to radiation alongside vacuum, temperature variation and launch-induced mechanical stresses.

Selecting an optical system specifically designed with these environments in mind can therefore be an important part of creating a dependable long-term imaging solution.

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Two optical solutions

Whether the application requires the simplicity of a fixed focal length or the flexibility of a zoom system, Kowa offers two specialist radiation-resistant lens configurations.

LM15FC-R

Compact Fixed-Focal-Length Radiation-Resistant Lens.

The LM15FC-R combines radiation-resistant optical glass with a rugged mechanical design for specialist imaging applications.

Its fixed 15 mm focal length makes it an excellent choice for systems requiring a stable, predetermined field of view, while the mechanical construction has been engineered with enhanced resistance to water and dust.

A reversible double-nut mechanism also enables precise focus adjustment and secure positioning once the optical system has been configured.

Key advantages

  • 15 mm fixed focal length
  • Radiation-resistant optical glass
  • Helps suppress radiation-induced discoloration
  • Designed for extended use in radiation environments
  • Rugged mechanical construction
  • Precise focus adjustment
  • Suitable for terrestrial and space applications
  • Built to order
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LMZ1166M3-R

Radiation-Resistant Zoom Lens

For applications where a fixed field of view is not enough, the LMZ1166M3-R provides the additional flexibility of a zoom optical system.

Radiation-resistant glass helps suppress optical discoloration during exposure, while the zoom design enables operators and imaging systems to observe subjects across a greater range of working distances and fields of view.

This makes the LMZ1166M3-R particularly suited to specialist monitoring and remote inspection applications where imaging requirements may change during operation.

Key advantages

  • Zoom optical system
  • Radiation-resistant optical glass
  • Helps reduce radiation-induced browning
  • Flexible field-of-view adjustment
  • Suitable for long-term operation in radiation-prone environments
  • Suitable for specialist terrestrial and space applications
  • Built to order
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