Frequently Asked Questions

A Quarter Waveplate is used to convert linearly polarized beams into circularly polarized beams (and vice versa).

The construction of a Quarter Waveplate is such that the fast axis, indicated by the marked line, lies in the surface at 45° to the input polarization.

Applications for Quarter Waveplates include creating circular polarization from linear or linear polarization from circular, ellipsometry, optical pumping, suppressing unwanted reflections (when used in conjunction with a polarizer) and optical isolation (when used with a Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube.).

The thickness of a Half Waveplate is such that the phase difference is v (zero order) or 3v, 5v, 7v, etc (multiple orders).

Ealing Zero Order Waveplates are the preferred type of waveplate. They are not as sensitive to changes in temperature, wavelength, angle of incidence, or collimation.

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