Known as phase retarders, waveplates are optical devices that create an additional optical path difference (or phase difference) between two mutually perpendicular light vibrations. They are typically made of birefringent quartz plates with precise thickness, where the optical axis is parallel to the plate surface.
They can rotate linearly polarized light by any angle—the rotation angle is twice the angle between the polarization direction of the incident light and the optical axis.
When combined with a polarizing beam splitter (PBS), they are often used in beam combiners that require polarization state conversion.
They can retard linearly polarized light by 1/4 wavelength, converting linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light. Conversely, they can also convert circularly polarized light back into linearly polarized light. When paired with a polarizing beam splitter (PBS), 1/4 waveplates can be used in isolators.
Used in laser, optical communication, and instrumentation fields, specifically to meet the polarization conversion requirements of beam combiners, as well as in isolators and circulators.
Coated for wavelengths including 193/266/450/633/780nm and other designated wavelengths
Available types: True Zero-Order Waveplates (air gap, optically contacted composite) and Low-Order Waveplates
Transmitted Wavefront RMS: 6nm
High damage threshold
