Compare Model Drawings, CAD & Specs Availability Price
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 400 nm
$468
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 520 nm
$468
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 532 nm
$468
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 632.8 nm
$468
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 800 nm
$468
1 Week
1 Week
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 850 nm
$468
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 905 nm
$468
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 1030 nm
$468
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 1040 nm
$468
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 1050 nm
$468
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 1064 nm
$468
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 1550 nm
$468
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 266 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 354.7 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 400 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 413 nm
$554
2 Weeks
2 Weeks
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 441.6 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 488 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 514.5 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 520 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 532 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 632.8 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 780 nm
$554
2 Weeks
2 Weeks
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 800 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 850 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 905 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 1030 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 1040 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 1064 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 1300 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock
Zero-Order Waveplate, Half-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 1550 nm
$554
In Stock
In Stock

Specifications

  • Retardation
    λ/2
  • Retardation Accuracy
    ±λ/300
  • Material
    Quartz
  • Clear Aperture
    8.0 mm (12.7 mm Diameter Versions)
    15.0 mm (25.4 mm Diameter Versions)
  • Housing
    Black Anodized Aluminum
  • Construction
    Two Air-spaced Quartz Plates
  • Wavefront Distortion
    ≤λ/10 at 632.8 nm over the full aperture
  • Damage Threshold
    2 MW/cm2
  • Pulse Damage Threshold
    2 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical
  • Reflectivity per Surface
    <0.25%
  • Antireflection Coating
    Laser Line V-coating
  • Surface Quality
    10-5 scratch-dig
  • Diameter Tolerance
    +0/-0.1 mm
  • Wedge
    <1 arc sec
  • Thickness
    05RP02: 6.35 mm
    10RP02: 7.92 mm
  • Thickness Tolerance
    +0/-0.25 mm
  • Cleaning

Features

Quartz Half-Wave Waveplate Construction

These zero-order wave plates are constructed of two quartz plates, air-spaced to allow for use with high-power lasers. By combining the two air spaced waveplates whose retardations differ by exactly λ/2, a true half-wave waveplate results. The fast axis of one plate is aligned with the slow axis of the other, so that the net retardation is the difference of the two retardations. The waveplates are antireflection coated to maximize transmission for major laser wavelengths from 248-1550 nm. The waveplate assembly is mounted in a 12.7 mm or 25.4 mm diameter black anodized aluminum housing to protect the waveplate and permit convenient handling and mounting. Lines on the housing indicate the location of the slow axis.

Rotate the Plane of a Plane-Polarized Wave

A half-wave plate can rotate the plane of polarization from a polarized laser to any other desired plane. Suppose a plane-polarized wave is normally incident on a wave plate, and the plane of polarization is at an angle θ with respect to the fast axis. To see what happens, resolve the incident field into components polarized along the fast and slow axes, as shown. After passing through the plate, pick a point in the wave where the fast component passes through a maximum. Since the slow component is retarded by one half-wave, it will also be a maximum, but 180° out of phase, or pointing along the negative slow axis. If we follow the wave further, we see that the slow component remains exactly 180° out of phase with the original slow component, relative to the fast component. This describes a plane-polarized wave, but making an angle θ on the opposite side of the fast axis. Our original plane wave has been rotated through an angle 2θ.

Retardation is Insensitive to Wavelength

Zero-order wave plates offer several distinct advantages over multiple order wave plates. The primary benefit is a moderate insensitivity to wavelength change, making them ideal for laser diode or tunable laser applications. For example, a zero-order wave plate designed for 780 nm will provide useful retardance from 765–795 nm.

Retardation is Sensitive to Incidence Angle

Quartz waveplates are more sensitive to incidence angle than our Polymer waveplates. Polymer waveplates have excellent angular field of view and the retardation changes by less than 1% over a ±12° incidence angle. 

Retardation is Insensitive to Temperature

Retardation in zero-order wave plates is insensitive to temperature since thermal changes between the two quartz plates tend to cancel out. A typical zero-order wave plate has a temperature coefficient of 0.0001 λ/°C compared to 0.0015 λ/°C for a multiple-order wave plate, providing less change in retardation over an extended temperature range.

Designed for High Power Applications

These waveplates' two quartz plates are air-spaced rather than cemented together. As a result, they can be used in high power applications because optical cement can be susceptible to damage when exposed to high intensity laser beams. Additionally, quartz has a higher damage threshold than some other retardation materials such as polymer film.

How Quartz Waveplates Work

Quartz is an example of a uniaxial crystal, or crystal in which one axis has a different refractive index than the other two axes. The index associated with the unique axis is called the extraordinary index, the ordinary refractive index is associated with the remaining two axes. A half or quarter wave plate is a polished slice of a uniaxial crystal, in which the extraordinary axis lies within the plane of the optic. Light with polarization vector components oriented along the ordinary axis will undergo a phase delay relative to the perpendicular component oriented along the extraordinary axis. Change in polarization state will depend on the input state, and the physical orientation of the waveplate.

Manual Rotation Mounts

POLAR-ROT-MOUNT-FEAT OM-rm25_pol_rot_mnt-S RM25B-OpticsCage-Plus OC1-INTF tip-tilt-family NW_RS4065_POST
Models UPA-RM1A RM25A RM25B OC1-PR M1-1PR
GM-1RA
(M-) RS65
Retaining Thread 1.063-20
Compatible Optic Diameter* 25.4 mm
12.7 mm (PRA-05)
Special Features 1 in. Mirror Mounts Compatibility OpticsCage+™ Compatibility Tip&Tilt Adjustments Fine Adjustments
MT-multi-axis 9401 LH-FIBER-VERT NW_481_POST NW_RSPIT NW_LHIR_SNAP
Models (M-) MT-RS 9401 (-M) (M-) LH-1PR (M-) 481-A
(M-) 481-A-S
RSP-2T
RSP-1T
LM2-R
LM1-R
Retaining Thread 0.546-32 1.040-32 1.035-40 1.063-20 2.063-20
1.063-20
Compatible Optic Diameter* 12.7 mm 25.4 mm 25.4 mm
12.7 mm (PRA-05)
50.8 mm
25.4 mm
12.7 mm (PRA-05)
50.8 mm (LH2-2R)
38.1 mm (LH2-1.5R)
25.4 mm (LH1-1R)
12.7 mm (LH1-0.5R)
6.35 mm (LH1-0.25R)
Special Features Compact Stackable A-Line™ Compatibility Fine Adjustments Quick Exchange

Motorized Rotation Mounts

8410 MT-multi-axis MC-SR50-S 8401
Models 8410 (CONEX-) AG-PR100 (V6) SR50PP
PR50PP
(CONEX-) SR50CC
(CONEX-) PR50CC
8401 (-M)
Retaining Thread 1.040-32 1.063-20 1.563-20
Compatible Optic Diameters* 25.4 mm 25.4 mm
12.7 mm

*The adapter in parentheses is required for the optic size before it.