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Polarization Optics Selection Guide
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| Wave Plates |
| Description |
Retardation Accuracy |
Features/Applications |
Cost |
Laser Damage Threshold |
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Multiple Order Quartz Retardation Plates
Multiple-Order Quartz Wave Plates |
±λ/300 |
Dual wavelength multiple-order wave plates available |
Low |
2 MW/cm2 CW, 2 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical |
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Zero-Order Quartz Waveplates
Zero-Order Quartz Wave Plates |
±λ/300 |
Air spaced for high damage threshold, less sensitive to
wavelength and temperature variation than multiple-order
wave plates |
Moderate |
2 MW/cm2 CW, 2 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical |
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Zero-Order Precision Waveplates
Zero-Order Precision Wave Plates |
±λ/350 |
Least sensitive to wavelength variation, best angular
acceptance, large clear apertures available |
Low/Moderate |
500 W/cm2 CW, 4 J/cm2 with 20 nsec pulses at 1064 nm, typical |
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Achromatic Zero-Order Quartz-MgF2 Waveplates
Achromatic Zero-Order Quartz-MgF2 Wave Plates |
From ±λ/50 to ±λ/100 |
Superior broadband performance, higher damage threshold than
achromatic polymer film wave plates |
Moderate |
500 W/cm2 CW, 2 J/cm2 with 8 nsec pulses at 1064 nm, typical |
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Achromatic Zero-Order Waveplates
Achromatic Zero-Order Wave Plates |
±λ/100 |
Superior broadband performance, less sensitive to wavelength
change and better angular acceptance than achromatic
quartz-MgF2 wave plates |
High |
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 |
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| Polarizers |
| Description |
Extinction Ratio
Tp/Ts |
Transmission Efficiency |
Features/Applications |
Laser Damage Threshold |
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Glan-Laser Calcite Polarizers
Glan-Laser Calcite Polarizers |
>100,000:1 |
Tp >92%–95% |
Extreme polarization purity, very broadband, air spaced design
for high damage threshold, exit apertures provide for safe
escape of rejected polarization |
500 W/cm2 CW, 4 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical (uncoated) |
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Glan-Thompson Calcite Polarizers
Glan-Thompson Calcite Polarizers |
>100,000:1 |
Ts >90% |
Extreme polarization purity, very broadband, cemented calcite prism design
for lower power laser use, large acceptance angle permits use with
diverging and converging beams |
1 W/cm2 CW, 0.1 µJ/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical (uncoated) |
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Polarcor™ Linear Polarizers
Polarcor™ Linear Polarizers |
>10,000:1 |
Tp >79-94% |
Very high polarization purity, large acceptance angle,
compact design, less expensive than calcite polarizers |
1000 W/cm2 CW, 6 J/cm2 with 13 nsec pulses at 1064 nm (pass), typical
30 W/cm2 CW, 0.17 J/cm2 with 13 nsec pulses at 1064 nm (block), typical |
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Precision Linear Polarizers
Precision Linear Polarizers |
>150–4,000:1 |
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Large apertures available, for lower power laser
applications |
1 W/cm2 CW, 0.2 J/cm2 with 20 nsec pulses, visible, typical |
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Laser Line Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters
Laser Line Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters |
>1,000:1 |
Tp >95% |
High polarization purity and transmission efficiency over a
narrow band, cemented prism pair, for moderate
power lasers |
2 kW/cm2 CW, 1 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical |
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Broadband Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters
Broadband Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters |
>500:1 |
Tp >90% avg |
Moderate polarization purity and transmission efficiency
over a wide band, cemented prism pair, for moderate
power lasers |
2 kW/cm2 CW, 1 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical |
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High-energy Nd:YAG Laser Polarizing Cube
High-Energy Nd:YAG Laser Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters |
>200:1 |
Tp >95% |
Moderate polarization purity and high transmission
efficiency over a narrow band, optically
contacted prism pair, for high power lasers |
10 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical |
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UV Laser Line Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters
UV Laser Line Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters |
>100:1 |
Tp >90% |
Moderate polarization purity and transmission efficiency over a
narrow UV band, cemented prism pair, for moderate
power lasers |
100 W/cm2 CW, 0.1 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses at 10 Hz |
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High Energy Nd:YAG Laser Thin Film Polarizers
High-Energy Nd:YAG Laser Thin Film Polarizers |
>100:1 |
Tp >95% |
High damage threshold, high transmission efficiency
at Nd:YAG wavelengths |
5 MW/cm2 CW, 5 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses at 10 Hz @ 1064 nm |
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Ultrafast Laser Beamsplitters
Ultrafast Laser Thin Film Polarizers |
Tp/Ts>5:1 & 95:1 |
Tp>95% avg. |
Low dispersion minimizes pulse broadening, high
transmission efficiency over the Ti:Sapphire tuning range |
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