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Description

Photonchina specializes in the production of high-quality waveplates, essential optical components that transform the polarization state of light. These precision-crafted optics exhibit polished surfaces that contain the optical axis, allowing light to interact in a unique manner. Light entering the waveplate normal to its surface is split into components polarized parallel and perpendicular to the optical axis. This interaction results in a phase shift, known as retardance, between the two components. Photonchina's expertise lies in manufacturing quarter and half wave retarders, which are the most popular choices for various optical applications.

Photonchina's waveplates are engineered to transmit light while modifying its polarization state without causing attenuation, deviation, or displacement of the beam. This makes them ideal for applications requiring high damage thresholds and stable retardation over temperature changes, such as laser systems and infrared light sources. The waveplates are crafted from high-quality quartz materials, cut and polished to exacting standards. They feature a laser-quality finish, arcsecond parallelism, and a wavefront of less than λ/10, ensuring superior performance and reliability. The production process at Photonchina involves precise cutting of quartz materials with axes oriented to within a few arcminutes.

The waveplates are then polished to achieve the desired optical properties and coated with anti-reflective layers. Zero order and achromatic waveplates are meticulously matched in pairs and aligned within their cell mounts to guarantee optimal performance. With a wide range of standard wavelengths available, from 355 nm to 1590 nm, and custom options within 200-2300 nm,

Photonchina caters to diverse optical needs. Photonchina's commitment to quality is evident in their stringent specifications, including dimension tolerances of +0.0, -0.1mm, wavefront distortion of less than λ/8 at 632.8 nm, and retardation tolerance of less than λ/500. These specifications ensure that each waveplate meets the highest standards of precision and performance, making Photonchina a trusted partner for advanced optical solutions.

High-Precision Quartz Waveplates for Polarization Control

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Specifications

Waveplate Type (Retardation Order): Zero Order, Multiple Order, Achromatic
Material: Quartz and MgF2, MgF2, Quartz, N-BK7, Custom
Mounting: Mounted, Unmounted
Shape: Round, Square, Rectangle, Custom
Size (Largest Dimension): 1 mm
Design Wavelength: 850 nm
Surface Quality (Scratch-Dig): 10-5, 20-10, 40-20, 60-40, 80-50
Retardation: Lambda/2, Lambda/4, Lambda, Other
Retardation Tolerance: +/- Lambda/20, Custom, +/- Lambda/50, +/- Lambda/100, +/- Lambda/500, +/- Lambda/400, +/- Lambda/300, +/- Lambda/200
Transmitted Wavefront Distortion (TWD): <= Lambda/20, <= Lambda/10, <= Lambda/8, <= Lambda/6, <= Lambda/4, <= Lambda/2, Custom
Dimension Tolerance: +0.0, -0.1mm
Parallelism: <1 arc second

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

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Features

  • High-Quality Waveplates: Photonchina offers waveplates crafted from crystal quartz, ensuring exceptional optical performance and durability.
  • Precise Retardance Control: Achieve any degree of retardance at any wavelength where quartz is transparent, with popular options including quarter and half waveplates.
  • Minimal Thickness: Engineered to provide mechanical strength with minimal thickness, corresponding to several full waves of retardance.
  • Superior Fabrication: Quartz materials are cut with axes oriented within a few arcminutes and polished to a laser-quality finish with arcsecond parallelism and <λ/10 wavefront.
  • High Damage Threshold: Ideal for applications requiring high damage thresholds and retardation stability over temperature changes, such as laser or infrared light sources.
  • Zero and Achromatic Waveplates: Matched in pairs and accurately aligned to ensure optimal performance.
  • Half Waveplate: Rotates linearly polarized light to any desired orientation with the rotation angle being twice the angle between the incident polarized light and optical axis.
  • Quarter Waveplate: Converts linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light and vice versa, with a phase difference of 1/4 wavelength (λ/4, Zero order) or certain multiples.
  • Wide Wavelength Range: Standard wavelengths include 355, 532, 632.8, 808, 850, 980, 1064, 1310, 1480, 1550, 1590 nm, with other wavelengths available within the range of 200-2300 nm.

Applications

  • Photonchina’s waveplates are ideal for applications requiring high damage thresholds and retardation stability over temperature changes.
  • Suitable for use with lasers or infrared light sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are Photonchina's waveplates fabricated?
Photonchina's waveplates fabrication starts from quartz materials cutting with their axes oriented within a few arcminutes before being polished to a laser-quality finish, arcsecond parallelism, and <λ/10 wavefront. Their thickness tolerance is a only small fraction of a micron. To verify retardation tolerances, specially-trained optical technicians use purpose-built test gear.
What are the applications of a half waveplate?
A half waveplate rotates linearly polarized light to any desired orientation. The rotation angle is twice the angle between the incident polarized light and optical axis. It is ideal for applications requiring high damage thresholds and retardation stability over temperature change, such as for use with lasers or infrared light sources.
What is a waveplate?
A waveplate is an optic in which the polished faces contain the optical axis. It can transmit light and modify its polarization state without attenuating, deviating, or displacing the beam.
What is a zero order waveplate?
A zero order waveplate is designed to give a retardance of zero full waves, plus the desired fraction. It has broad bandwidth and a lower sensitivity to temperature and wavelength changes. It should be considered for more critical applications.
What types of waveplates does Photonchina offer?
Photonchina offers octadic waveplate (1/8 waveplate), quarter waveplates (1/4 waveplate), half wave plates (1/2 waveplate), and full waveplate. Both circular aperture and quadratic aperture are available.

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

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