Description

Experience unparalleled precision and reliability with our expertly crafted quartz waveplates. Designed for advanced optical applications, these waveplates are meticulously manufactured to ensure exceptional performance. The use of high-quality quartz material ensures durability and stability, making them a preferred choice for professionals seeking excellence in optical components.

Our waveplates are engineered with a focus on minimizing imperfections, featuring a scratch and dig rating of 40/20~10/5. This ensures a pristine surface quality, essential for maintaining the integrity of transmitted light. Additionally, the transmitted wavefront distortion ranges from λ/2 to λ/8, providing superior optical clarity and precision.

Precision alignment is critical in optical systems, and our waveplates offer exceptional parallelism ranging from 3 arc seconds to 1 arc second. With a retardation tolerance of less than λ/300, these waveplates deliver highly accurate phase retardation, crucial for demanding applications. Furthermore, they are AR coated at a custom wavelength, enhancing their performance by reducing reflection losses.

Choosing the right waveplate involves several key parameters: wavelength, retardance type (such as half-wave or quarter-wave), and the order of the waveplate. Our selection includes various orders, with low order and several zero order options such as Cemented Zero Order, True Zero Order, Air Spaced Zero Order, and Optical Contacted Zero Order. Zero order waveplates offer broader wavelength, temperature, and angle bandwidths compared to low order waveplates.

Among the zero order types, True Zero Order and Air Spaced, as well as Optical Contacted types, boast a large damage threshold, making them suitable for high-power applications. However, True Zero and Optical Contacted types require more complex manufacturing processes. The Cemented type, while easier to produce, has a lower damage threshold, making it ideal for less demanding environments.

Specifications

Waveplate Type (Retardation Order): Multiple Order
Material: Quartz
Mounting: Mounted
Shape: Custom
Size (Largest Dimension): 12.7 mm
Design Wavelength: 633 nm
Surface Quality (Scratch-Dig): 20-10
Retardation: Lambda/4
Retardation Tolerance: +/- Lambda/300
Transmitted Wavefront Distortion (TWD): <= Lambda/8
Parallelism: 1 arc Sec
Coating: AR@633nm R<0.2%

Got questions about specs? Use the inquiry form to ask.

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Features

  • Precision Quartz Construction: Ensures excellent durability and optical performance
  • Multiple Order Options: Available in Low Order and five Zero Order types
  • High Surface Quality: Scratch-dig options from 40/20 to 10/5 for superior finish
  • High Retardation Accuracy: Tolerance better than λ/300 for phase-sensitive applications
  • Low Wavefront Distortion: Up to λ/8 for minimal beam degradation
  • Excellent Parallelism: As low as 1 arc second for tight optical alignment
  • Custom AR Coatings: Optimized for user-specified operating wavelengths
  • High Damage Threshold (select types): Especially True Zero and Optical Contacted designs

Applications

  • Laser Polarization Control: Adjust or rotate polarization states in precision laser systems
  • Optical Communication: Maintain or manipulate polarization in fiber-based systems
  • Quantum Optics: Enable accurate polarization manipulation in entanglement experiments
  • Microscopy & Imaging: Improve contrast and polarization-based imaging fidelity
  • Spectroscopy Systems: Enhance control over input/output light polarization
  • OEM & R&D Integration: Ideal for integration into custom optical setups and scientific instruments

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a waveplate or retarder?
A waveplate or retarder is an optical device that alters the polarization state of a light wave travelling through it.
What are waveplates made of?
Waveplates are constructed out of a birefringent material, such as quartz, for which the index of refraction is different for different orientations of light passing through it.
What are the important parameters to know when ordering waveplates?
When you order the waveplates, you need to know the following important parameters: 1) What is the wavelength? 2) What is the retardance? Half waveplates or quarter waveplates or some special type? 3) What is the order?
What is the difference between low order and zero order waveplates?
Low order compared to zero order, zero order has more broad wavelength and temperature and angle bandwidth. For zero order, true zero order and air spaced and optical contacted type have large damage threshold. But true zero and optical contacted type are more difficult to produce. Cemented type has low damage threshold.
What are the applications of waveplates?
Waveplates have applications in laser optics.

Got more questions? Use the inquiry form to ask the supplier directly.

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