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General Information
A Retardation Plate (or waveplate) resolves a polarized light beam into two orthogonal components, retards the phase of one component relative to the other, and then recombines the two to form a single beam with new polarization characteristics. Generally, Retardation Plates are manufactured to provide half-wave or quarter-wave retardation.
Half-wave Retardation Plates are often used to reorient
the plane of a linearly polarized input beam.
Quarter-wave Retardation Plates can be used to convert linearly polarized input light into circularly polarized, or vice versa. |
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ColorLink® now provides custom Retardation Plates in Achromatic and Zero-Order configurations. Application-specific design assistance ensures your performance requirements are met, while working within your budget. Wavelength Specific Polarization Control (WSPC) provides another degree of design freedom, where a single Retardation Plate can perform differently at two or more discrete wavelengths.
Our unique manufacturing processes enable fabrication of high transmission, multi-layer polymer Retardation Plates with minimum absorption, reflection, and scatter losses. Environmentally robust, ColorLink Retardation Plates withstand broad thermal conditions. Cost-effective, wafer-scale production techniques also ensure excellent part-to-part uniformity.
Typical Retardation Plate Specifications
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Zero-Order |
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Achromatic |
| Size Range |
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5 – 300 mm |
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5 – 100 mm |
| Clear Aperture |
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Central 80% of outside dimension |
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Central 80% of outside dimension |
| Part Geometry |
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Circular and Rectangular are standard |
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Circular and Rectangular are standard |
| Wavelength Range |
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400 – 2200 nm |
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400 – 2200 nm |
| Retardance Value |
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λ/4 and λ/2 are standard |
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λ/4 and λ/2 are standard |
| Retardance Accuracy |
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± λ/100 is typical |
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± λ/100 is typical |
| Surface Quality |
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40 – 20 scratch and dig |
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40 – 20 scratch and dig |
| Transmitted Wavefront
Distortion |
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λ/4 (at 632.8 nm) |
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λ/4 (at 632.8 nm) |
| Acceptance Angle |
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± 7° |
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± 7° |
| Beam Deviation |
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1 arc min, maximum |
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1 arc min, maximum |
| Retarder Material |
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Birefringent polymer |
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Birefringent polymer stack |
| Substrate Material |
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Synthetic Fused Silica |
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Synthetic Fused Silica |
| Temperature Range |
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-45° C to +80° C |
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-45° C to +80° C |
Notes:
- Above specifications are provided for reference only. Your custom Retardation Plates will be designed to meet your exact
requirements.
- Additional Part Geometries are also available on a custom basis.
- Many additional Retardance Values and associated Accuracy conditions are possible.
- Wider Acceptance Angles are also available.
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