Waveplate
Waveplates are used to change the polarization type of the
incident radiation by unequally phase-shifting its orthogonally polarized
components.
ELAN manufactures Multiple Order and Cemented Zero Order Quarter and Half
Waveplates from high quality artificial crystal quartz.
Multiple Order Waveplates are fabricated from a single 1 mm thick plate, pic.2.
The retardence at the specified wavelength is equal to an integral namber of
waves plus 1/4 or 1/2 λ.
Zero Order Waveplates are made from two individual plates of crystalline quartz,
optically contacted with the direction of retardation opposed, pic.1. The final
retardation is the net difference in retardation of the two plates, 1/4 or 1/2 λ. |
|
Achromatic l/2 waveplate |
Achromatic l/4 waveplate
|
Standard specification
| Material |
Crystal Quartz |
| Design wavelength |
Waveplate can be designed and fabricated at any
wavelength between 250 and 1550 nm |
| Diameter |
Ø 12.7 and Ø 25.4 mm |
| Thickness L |
Multiple:
~1 mm
Zero Order: ~2 mm |
| Tolerance |
Diameter:
+0.0/-0.25 mm |
| Surface Quality |
S/D 10/5 |
| Wavefront
distortion |
λ/10 @ 633 nm |
| Parallelism |
Multiple: < 1 arcsec
Cemented zero order: < 30 arcsec
Optically-contacted zero order: < 1 arcsec |
| Reterdation tolerance |
λ/300
at 22°C |
| Bevels |
None |
| Chips |
< 0.4 mm |
| AR coating |
R < 0.25% @ designed wavelength |
| Max. handling power |
Multiple: 200 MW/cm2, pulsed
Cemented zero order: 1 W/cm2, CW
Optically-contacted zero order: 200 MW/cm2, pulsed |
|
