Polarizing Optics
Waveplates
Our waveplates (retardation plates or phase shifters) include octadic-wave (l /8),quarter-wave (l /4), half-wave (l /2) and full-wave (l ) plates. The waveplates are widely used in synthesis and analysis of light in various states of polarization.
| The l /2 plates are used to change the plane of polarization through an angle 2q toward the optic axis if the optic axis and incident plane of polarization is q . Therefore, l /2 plates can be used as continuously adjustable polarization rotators. The l /2 plates can also change left circularly polarized light into right circularly polarized light or vice versa. |
| The l /4 plates convert linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light or vice versa. When a l /4 plate is double passed, i.e. by mirror reflection, it acts as a l /2 plate and rotates the plane of polarization to a certain angle, i.e. 90° . This scheme is widely used in isolators, Q-switches, etc. |
The phase retardation is generated by the velocity difference between the ordinary and extraordinary beams in the birefringent plate, i.e. Quartz plate. The phase retardation can be controlled by the thickness of the plate. Our waveplates are classified into multi-order, low-order, zero-order and true zero-order waveplates by the thickness or order of the phase retardation (see further details in the following pages).
We can provide waveplates designed and fabricated to specific orders, eg. 11l /4 or 3l /2, according to customers’ requirements.
We supply dual-wavelength waveplates, eg. 1064 nm (full wave) + 532 nm (half wave), as the polarization rotators for third harmonic generation (THG-PR) or other applications.
Multi-Order Waveplate
| Thickness: ~ 1 mm |
| High Damage Threshold |
| Low Cost |
Low-Order Waveplate
| Thickness: 0.2 - 0.4 mm |
| Better Temperature Bandwidth |
| High Damage Threshold |
| Low Cost |
Specifications:
Material: Crystal Quartz
Dimension: +0.0, -0.2 mm
Wavefront distortion: < l /8 @ 633 nm
Retardation tolerance: < l /300
Parallelism: < 1 arc second
Surface quality: 20/10 scratch and dig
AR coating: R < 0.2% at central wavelength on both surfaces
Standard Wavelength: 266, 355, 514, 532, 633, 670, 780, 810, 850, 1064, 1550nm
Multi-Order Waveplate
| f (mm) | Uncoated | AR/AR coated |
| Part No. | Part No. | |
| 10.0 | WPM1110 | WPM1210 |
| 12.7 | WPM1112 | WPM1212 |
| 15.0 | WPM1115 | WPM1215 |
| 20.0 | WPM1120 | WPM1220 |
| 25.4 | WPM1125 | WPM1225 |
Low-Order Waveplate
| f (mm) | Uncoated | AR/AR coated |
| Part No. | Part No. | |
| 10.0 | WPL1110 | WPL1210 |
| 12.7 | WPL1112 | WPL1212 |
| 15.0 | WPL1115 | WPL1215 |
| 20.0 | WPL1120 | WPL1220 |
| 25.4 | WPL1125 | WPL1225 |
| Order information: Part No.-Phase shifters-Wavelength, eg. WPL1115-l /4-670 |
Zero-Order Waveplate
| High Temperature Bandwidth |
| High Wavelength Bandwidth |
Specifications:
Material: Crystal quartz
Dimension: +0.0, -0.2mm
Wavefront distortion: < l /8 @ 633 nm
Retardation tolerance: < l /300
Surface quality: 20/10 scratch and dig
AR coating: R < 0.2% at central wavelength on both surfaces
Standard Wavelength: 514, 532, 633, 635, 670, 780, 810, 850, 1064, 1310nm
| f (mm) | AR/AR coated |
| Part No. | |
| 10.0 12.7 15.0 20.0 15.4 |
WPZ1210 WPZ1212 WPZ1215 WPZ1220 WPZ1225 |
Cemented True Zero-Order Waveplates and Single Plate True Zero-Order Waveplate
CONTACT US FOR SPECIFICATION SHEETS | Order information: Part No.-Phase shifters-Wavelength, eg. WPZ1210-l /4-1064nm |
Air-Space Zero-Order Waveplate
| High Temperature Bandwidth |
| High Wavelength Bandwidth |
| High Power Application |
Specifications:
Material: Crystal quartz
Dimension: +0.0, -0.2mm
Wavefront distortion: < l /8 @ 633 nm
Retardation tolerance: < l /300
Surface quality: 20/10 scratch and dig
AR coating: R < 0.2% at central wavelength on both surfaces
Standard Wavelength: 266, 355, 514, 532, 800, 1064nm
| Outside Diameter D (mm) | Aperture f (mm) | Thickness t (mm) | Part No. |
| 25.4 25.4 25.4 30.0 30.0 |
10.0 12.7 15.0 20.0 25.4 |
8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 |
WPZ1310 WPZ1312 WPZ1315 WPZ1320 WPZ1325 |
| Order information: Part No.-Phase shifters-Wavelength, eg. WPZ1310-l /4-1064nm |
THG-PR Polarization Rotators
The THG-PR polarization rotators are dual wavelength waveplates and are used to manage the polarizations of laser beams to obtain maximum conversion efficiency of third harmonic generations (THG), i.e. 1064 nm + 532 nm ® 355 nm.
Generally, type I frequency-doubler (oo ® e) + type II frequency-tripler (oe ® e) will be the best design for THG which needs no polarization rotator. However, when a type II KTP crystal is used as frequency-doubler and type II LBO as frequency-tripler (see Figure), the laser polarizations coming out from the KTP are not optimized for THG. Our THG-PR polarization rotator can help to optimize the THG.
Common ˝ wave phase retardation plates can only rotate the polarization of 532 nm to a specific angle. However, the linear polarization of 1064 nm will be distorted to be elliptical. The THG-PR rotator is specially designed to maintain the linear polarization of 1064 nm (l plate) and change simultaneously 532 nm (l /2 plate) to the angle you need. The THG-PR rotator can be applied to:
Specifications:
Material: Crystal Quartz
Dimensions: +0.0, -0.2 mm
Wavefront distortion: < l /8 @ 633 nm
Retardation tolerance: < l /300
Parallelism: < 1 arc second
Surface quality: 20/10 scratch and dig
Double wavelength AR coating:
R < 0.2% at fundamental wavelength and R < 0.5% at SHG wavelength
| f (mm) | 10.0 | 12.7 | 15.0 | 20.0 |
| Wavelength & Phase Shifter | Part No. | Part No. | Part No. | Part No. |
| 1064nm: l & 532nm: l /2 | WPT1110 | WPT1112 | WPT1115 | WPT1120 |
| 532nm: l & 1064nm: l /2 | WPT1210 | WPT1212 | WPT1215 | WPT1220 |
| 532nm: l & 355nm: l /2 | WPT1310 | WPT1312 | WPT1315 | WPT1320 |
| 355nm: l & 532nm: l /2 | WPT1410 | WPT1412 | WPT1415 | WPT1420 |
| 532nm: l & 1064nm: l /4 | WPT1510 | WPT1512 | WPT1515 | WPT1520 |
| Order information: Part No. + AR. For Example: WPT1415 + AR |
| Note: Other dual wavelength waveplates are available on request. |
Polarization Rotators
The plane of polarization of linearly polarized light will be rotated by Quartz crystal due to the optical activity. Our polarization rotators have very high temperature bandwidths and can easily be used in rotating the polarization of lasers.
Specifications:
Material: Crystal quartz
Rotation accuracy: < 5 minutes
Wavefront distortion: l /4 @ 632.8 nm
Wavelength range: 350-1300 nm
Parallelism: < 10 arc seconds
Surface quality: 20/10 scratch and dig
AR-coating: R < 0.2% at central wavelength
Rotation: counter-clockwise (left-handed, standard)
Standard Wavelengths: 532, 633, 670, 780, 810, 850, 1064 nm
| Angle of rotation | 45° | 90° |
| f (mm) 10.0 12.7 15.0 20.0 |
Part No. PPR1410 PPR1412 PPR1415 PPR1420 |
Part No. PPR1910 PPR1912 PPR1915 PPR1920 |
| Order information: Part No. - Wavelength + AR, eg. PPR1920 – 1064 nm + AR |
| Note: Other wavelength and angle rotators are available on request. |