DescriptionSpecifications
Models
Catalog PDF
Newport achromatic zero-order wave plates are designed to operate with a high degree of retardation accuracy over a broad wavelength range. These true zero-order wave plates are constructed using a stack of birefringent polymer films laminated between two high-precision BK 7 windows, each with a high efficiency, broadband antireflection coating. This construction ensures excellent transmitted wavefront quality, while minimizing beam deviation and surface reflection losses. The assembly is mounted in a black anodized aluminum housing for protection and ease of mounting, with the retarder fast axis marked for alignment reference.
Achromatic polymer wave plates have better angular acceptance and less sensitivity to wavelength change than achromatic quartzMgF2 wave plates. Retardation changes by less than 1% over a ±7° incidence angle and is maintained to better than ±λ/100 over the entire bandwidth. Optical transmittance varies slightly from the precision zero-order wave plates because several polymer layers are used in each achromatic wave plate.
Achromatic wave plates are available in λ/4 or λ/2 retardation over four wavelength ranges throughout the visible and near infrared. The standard 25.4 mm outer diameter is convenient for mounting into Newport rotary mounts. |
For a tutorial on wave plates, see Polarization |
Specifications |
| Retarder Material |
Birefringent polymer film stack |
| Substrate Material |
BK 7, grade A, fine annealed optical glass |
| Retardation |
λ/4 or λ/2 |
| Retardation Accuracy |
±λ/100 |
| Wavefront Distortion |
≤λ/4 at 632.8 nm over the full aperture |
| Clear Aperture |
10.2 mm |
| Surface Quality |
40-20 scratch-dig |
| Transmitted Beam Deviation |
≤1 arc min |
| Acceptance Angle |
± 7° |
| Thickness |
3.56 mm |
| Housing Diameter |
25.4 ±0.13 mm |
| Housing Thickness |
6.2 mm |
| Temperature Range |
-20 °C to 50 °C |
| Antireflection Coating |
Broadband, multilayer coating, Ravg <0.5% |
| Cleaning |
Non-abrasive method, acetone or isopropyl alcohol on lens tissue recommended (see Care and Cleaning of Optics) |
| Damage Threshold |
500 W/cm2 CW, 0.3 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, visible, 0.5 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses at 1064 nm, typical |
| Housing |
Black anodized aluminum |
|
λ/4 Wave Plate Retardance |
λ/4 Wave Plate Retardance
|
λ/2 Wave Plate Retardance |
λ/2 Wave Plate Retardance
|
Internal Transmittance |
Internal Transmittance
|
Wavelength Performance of Common λ/4 Wave Plates |
Wavelength Performance of Common λ/4 Wave Plates
|
Specifications
| Retarder Material | Birefringent polymer film stack |
| Substrate Material | BK 7, grade A, fine annealed optical glass |
| Retardation | λ/4 or λ/2 |
| Retardation Accuracy | ±λ/100 |
| Wavefront Distortion | ≤λ/4 at 632.8 nm over the full aperture |
| Clear Aperture | 10.2 mm |
| Surface Quality | 40-20 scratch-dig |
| Transmitted Beam Deviation | ≤1 arc min |
| Acceptance Angle | ± 7° |
| Thickness | 3.56 mm |
| Housing Diameter | 25.4 ±0.13 mm |
| Housing Thickness | 6.2 mm |
| Temperature Range | -20 °C to 50 °C |
| Antireflection Coating | Broadband, multilayer coating, Ravg <0.5% |
| Cleaning | Non-abrasive method, acetone or isopropyl alcohol on lens tissue recommended (Unknown type Newport.Step.Product.XRefElement) |
| Damage Threshold | 500 W/cm2 CW, 0.3 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, visible, 0.5 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses at 1064 nm, typical |
| Housing | Black anodized aluminum |
λ/4 Wave Plate Retardance
λ/4 Wave Plate Retardance
λ/2 Wave Plate Retardance
λ/2 Wave Plate Retardance
Internal Transmittance
Internal Transmittance
Wavelength Performance of Common λ/4 Wave Plates
Wavelength Performance of Common λ/4 Wave Plates
| | Model | Description |
|
10RP42-1
|
Achromatic Zero-Order Wave Plate, 25.4 mm Diameter, λ/2 Retardation, 545nm
|
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10RP42-2
|
Achromatic Zero-Order Wave Plate, 25.4 mm Diameter, λ/2 Retardation, 720nm
|
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10RP42-3
|
Achromatic Zero-Order Wave Plate, 25.4 mm Diameter, λ/2 Retardation, 840nm
|
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10RP42-4
|
Achromatic Zero-Order Wave Plate, 25.4 mm Diameter, λ/2 Retardation, 1060nm
|
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10RP44-1
|
Achromatic Zero-Order Wave Plate, 25.4 mm Diameter, λ/4 Retardation, 545nm
|
|
10RP44-2
|
Achromatic Zero-Order Wave Plate, 25.4 mm Diameter, λ/4 Retardation, 720nm
|
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10RP44-3
|
Achromatic Zero-Order Wave Plate, 25.4 mm Diameter, λ/4 Retardation, 840nm
|
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10RP44-4
|
Achromatic Zero-Order Wave Plate, 25.4 mm Diameter, λ/4 Retardation, 1060nm
|