Waveplate Overview

Waveplates are made from birefringent materials which introduce a phase difference between the fast and slow principal axis of the waveplate. The optical axis of waveplate is parallel to the face. Light incident normal to the surface will be split to components polarized parallel and perpendicular to the optical axis with different refractive index and velocity in this device. The difference in velocities gives rise to a phase shift which is called retardance. At any specific wavelength the phase retardance is governed by the thickness of Waveplates.

DELN offer complete series of half waveplates and quarter waveplates,, include achromatic waveplate, zero order waveplate, multi order waveplate, dual wavelength waveplate, other custom waveplates can also be provided upon request. DELN can also provide ring mount for waveplate.

Half Waveplate

The thickness of a half waveplate is such that the phase difference is 1/2-wavelength (ture-zero order) or some multiple of 1/2-wavelength (multiple order).
A linearly polarized beam incident on a half waveplate emerges as a linearly polarized beam but rotated such that its angle to the optical axis is twice that of the incident beam. Therefore, half-waveplates can be used as continuously adjustable polarization rotators. Half-waveplates are used in rotating the plane of polarization, electro-optic modulation and as a variable ratio beamsplitter when used in conjunction with a polarization cube.

Quarter Waveplate

The thickness of the quarter waveplate is such that the phase difference is 1/4 wavelength (ture-zero order) or some multiple of 1/4 wavelength (multiple order).
If the angle q (between the electric field vector of the incident linearly polarized beam and the retarder principal plane) of the quarter-waveplate is 45, the emergent beam is circularly polarized. When a quarter waveplate is double passed, i.e. by mirror reflection, it acts as a half waveplate and rotates the plane of polarization to a certain angle. Quarter waveplates are used in creating circular polarization from linear or linear polarization from circular, ellipsometry, optical pumping, suppressing unwanted reflection and optical isolation.

Types of Waveplate

Type		Feature
Zero Order	Cemented	Cemented by glue Better Temperature Bandwidth Wide Wavelength Bandwidth Moderate damage threshold
	Optical Contacted	No glue Better Temperature Bandwidth Wide Wavelength Bandwidth Better damage threshold Good wavefront and parallelism
	Air Spaced	No glue, Mounted Better Temperature Bandwidth Wide Wavelength Bandwidth High damage threshold Good wavefront
True Zero Order	Cemented	Cemented by glue Better Temperature Bandwidth Wide Wavelength Bandwidth Moderate damage threshold Good wavefront and parallelism
Multi Order		Low Temperature Bandwidth Low Wavelength Bandwidth High damage threshold Good wavefront and parallelism Low cost
Dual Wavelength		Provide Specific Retardance At Two Different Wavelengths
Achromatic		Better Temperature Bandwidth Very broad Wavelength Bandwidth Cemented and air spaced available

How to choose a waveplate?

Firstly, you should know the retardation, is it a half waveplate or a quarter waveplate? Or even a special retardation?Then, you should know the size and working wavelength. This is important for waveplate. The retardation is different at different wavelength. It depends on wavelength.

After confirm these conditions, we should choose a type of waveplate.

If temperature bandwidth and wavelength bandwidth is important for you, you should choose zero order or true zero order.

For zero order, optical contacted has better wavefront distortion and parallelism, air spaced has high damage threshold. True zero order is better than zero order waveplate at all parameters and can be used at more critical application.

When temperature bandwidth and wavelength bandwidth is not a problem for you, multi order is a better choice, it is cheap.

If a zero order or true zero order waveplate does not offer retardance over a wide enough wavelength band, one solution is to use an achromatic waveplate, it has over hundreds of nanometers bandwidth.

For detailed information, please refer to above table or contact us.

【 Go Back 】 | 【 Close this window 】