Polarization Optics Selection Guide

Selecting the proper polarization optic for your application requires making a number of choices. A few of the many considerations include: polarization function, extinction ratio, transmission efficiency, laser damage resistance, wavefront distortion, and certainly cost. Newport also offers a wide variety of Rotational Mounts for mounting polarization optics. The information in this section should help in comparing the available choices from Newport.

Selecting an Polarization Optic

POLOPTIC SGD-S

Wave Plates

Description Retardation Accuracy Cost Laser Damage Threshold Features/Applications
OP-multordqtzwp-S Multiple-Order Quartz Wave Plates
(λ/2, λ/4)		 ±λ/300 Low 2 MW/cm2 CW, 2 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical Dual wavelength multiple-order wave plates available
OP-zerordqtzwp-S Zero-Order Quartz Wave Plates
(λ/2, λ/4)		 ±λ/300 Moderate 2 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical Air spaced for high damage threshold, less sensitive to wavelength and temperature variation than multiple-order wave plates
OP-zerordprecwp-S Zero-Order Polymer Wave Plates
(λ/2, λ/4)		 ±λ/350 Low/Moderate 500 W/cm2 CW, 4 J/cm2 with 20 nsec pulses at 1064 nm, typical Least sensitive to wavelength variation, best angular acceptance, large clear apertures available
OP-10rp52-S Achromatic Zero-Order Quartz-MgF2 Wave Plates
(λ/2, λ/4)		 From ±λ/50 to ±λ/100 Moderate 500 W/cm2 CW, 2 J/cm2 with 8 nsec pulses at 1064 nm, typical Superior broadband performance, higher damage threshold than achromatic polymer film wave plates
OP-achrplymrwp-S Achromatic Zero-Order Polymer Wave Plates
(λ/2, λ/4)		 ±λ/100 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 Superior broadband performance, less sensitive to wavelength change and better angular acceptance than achromatic quartz-MgF2 wave plates
5540 Berek’s Variable Waveplates λ/1000 @ null
λ/100 @ 2		 High Work as a quarter-wave plate, a half-wave plate, or any arbitrary waveplate at any wavelength between 200 and 1600 nm, 0-5.8π @ 0.3 µm, 0-π @ 1.6 µm
POLOPTIC-S

Polarizers

Description Extinction Ratio
Tp/Ts		 Transmission Efficiency Laser Damage Threshold Features/Applications
OP-10gt04-S Glan-Thompson Calcite Polarizers >100,000:1 Ts >90% 1 W/cm2 CW, 0.1 µJ/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical (uncoated) Extreme polarization purity, very broadband, cemented calcite prism design for lower power laser use, large acceptance angle permits use with diverging and converging beams
OP-10gl08-S Glan-Laser Calcite Polarizers >100,000:1 Tp >92%–95% 500 W/cm2 CW, 4 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical (uncoated) Extreme polarization purity, very broadband, air-spaced design for high damage threshold, exit apertures provide for safe escape of rejected polarization
5526-S Rotatable Glan-Thompson Calcite Polarizers >100,000:1 Ts >95% 10 W/cm2 CW, typical Extreme polarization purity, very broadband, cemented calcite prism design for lower power laser use, integrated with a rotation mount
LT10-3_right Wollaston Calcite Polarizing Prisms >100,000:1 1 W/cm2 CW, typical (uncoated) Extreme polarization purity, very broadband, cemented calcite prism design for lower power laser use, output beams separated by 20 degrees
OP-polarcorlp-S Polarcor™ Dichroic Glass Linear Polarizers >10,000:1 T >79-94%, polarized input 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 Very high polarization purity, large acceptance angle, compact design, less expensive than calcite polarizers
5511-POL Laminated Sheet Linear Polarizers >4,000:1 T >32%, unpolarized input 100W/cm2 CW, 75 J/cm2 with 20 nsec pulses High polarization purity, large aperture and acceptance angle, compact design, less expensive than calcite polarizers
OP-linpolarizers-S Laminated Polymer Film Linear Polarizers >150–1,000:1 T >17-37%, unpolarized input 1 W/cm2 CW, 0.2 J/cm2 with 20 nsec pulses, visible, typical Large apertures available, for lower power laser applications
LPGF-2 Unmounted Laminated Polymer Film Linear Polarizers >100-1,000:1 T = 30% ±3%, unpolarized input 1 W/cm2 CW, 0.2 J/cm2 with 20 nsec pulses, typical Large aperture, low cost, ideal for low power NIR lasers, LEDs, and other NIR sources
OP-tfphien-S High-Energy Nd:YAG Laser Thin Film Polarizers >100:1 Tp >95% 5 MW/cm2 CW, 5 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses at 10 Hz @ 1064 nm High damage threshold, high transmission efficiency at Nd:YAG wavelengths
OP-u_fast_tfp_sq-S Thin Film Polarizers For Ultrashort Pulses Tp/Ts>5:1 & 95:1 Tp, avg >95% 3 J/cm2 @ 800 nm, 10 ns pulse, 10-100Hz Low dispersion minimizes pulse broadening, high transmission efficiency over the Ti:Sapphire tuning range
OP-ll_pol_cube-S Laser Line Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters >1,000:1 Tp >95% 2 kW/cm2 CW, 1 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical High polarization purity and transmission efficiency over a narrow band, cemented prism pair, for moderate power lasers
OP-bbpolcube fam-S Broadband Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters >500:1 Tp,avg >90% 2 kW/cm2 CW, 1 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical Moderate polarization purity and transmission efficiency over a wide band, cemented prism pair, for moderate power lasers
OP-hienpolcube-S High-Energy Nd:YAG Laser Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters >200:1 Tp >95% 10 J/cm2 with 10 nsec pulses, typical Moderate polarization purity and high transmission efficiency over a narrow band, optically contacted prism pair, for high power lasers