# Winston cone

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A **Winston cone** is a [non-imaging light collector](/source/Non-imaging_light_collector) in the shape of an [off-axis parabola of revolution](/source/Parabolic_reflector#Off-axis_reflectors)[1][2] with a reflective inner surface. It concentrates the light passing through a relatively large entrance aperture through a smaller exit aperture.[3] The collection of incoming rays is maximized by allowing off-axis rays to make multiple reflections before reaching the exit aperture. Winston cones are used to concentrate light from a large area onto a smaller [photodetector](/source/Photodetector) or [photomultiplier](/source/Photomultiplier). They are widely used for measurements in the far infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in part because there are no suitable materials to form lenses in the range.[4]

Winston cones were invented by physicist [Roland Winston](/source/Roland_Winston).[5][6][7] It is commercialized by companies such as Winston Cone Optics[8]

## References

1. Eric W. Weisstein (1996). ["Winston Cone"](http://www.ericweisstein.com/research/thesis/node21.html)

1. Stefano Perasso (2012-06-16). ["Winston Cones for a Cylindrical WCD"](https://indico.fnal.gov/getFile.py/access?contribId=66&sessionId=14&resId=0&materialId=slides&confId=5276)

1. Fernow, Richard Clinton (1989). [*Introduction to experimental particle physics*](https://books.google.com/books?id=WNhMzhm0SscC&pg=PA160). Cambridge University Press. p. 160. ISBN 0-521-37940-7.

1. Hanel, R. A. (2003). [*Exploration of the solar system by infrared remote sensing*](https://books.google.com/books?id=zT3T5cyZ4zQC&pg=PA160). 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press. p. 160. ISBN 0-521-81897-4.

1. Hinterberger, H. & Winston, R. (1966). "Efficient Light Coupler for Threshold Čerenkov Counters". *Rev. Sci. Instrum.*. **37**: 1094–1095. [doi:10.1063/1.1720428](https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1720428)

1. Winston, Roland (1970). "Light Collection within the Framework of Geometrical Optics". *J. Opt. Soc. Am.*. **60** (2): 245-247. [doi:10.1364/JOSA.60.000245](https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSA.60.000245)

1. Winston, Roland (8 September 2016). *How nonimaging optics began*. Nonimaging Optics: Efficient Design for Illumination and Solar Concentration XIII—Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Nonimaging Optics. Vol. 9955. Winston, Roland & Gordon, Jeffrey M. (eds.). SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics. p. 995502. [doi:10.1117/12.2239175](https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2239175)

1. ["Welcome to Winston Cone Optics | Winston Cone Optics"](http://winstonconeoptics.com/). *winstonconeoptics.com*. Retrieved 2019-03-13.

## See also

- [Nonimaging optics](/source/Nonimaging_optics)

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