f Number Calculator

Calculator

    Focal Length
    Aperture Diameter
    Wavelength

Results
 f Number (f/#)
 Numerical Aperture (NA)
(um)  Airy Disk Diameter
(um)  Gaussian Waist Size
(um)  Gaussian FWHM
(um)  Rayleigh Length VSWR
 

                                 

Method

 
 

  The f/# and NA are calculated from the aperture size (or Gaussian 1/e² beam width) and the focal length in air. Known ratios, together with the light wavelength, allow spot size calculations. This calc is accurate to ~2 significant figures.

  For a Gaussian beam (as opposed to a homogemeous beam), the "Aperture diameter" is the 1/e² diameter, and a large lens size is assumed. For a truncated beam, the appropriate spot size ratio should be applied (see the relevant calc, e.g. 1.12 for truncation at the 1/e² diameter). The resolving power is considered to be 1/2 of the Airy disk diameter, and the Rayleigh length is calculated here in air.