Achromatic Polymer Half-Wave Waveplates

Our polymer achromatic half waveplates consist of a polymer film stack laminated between two high-precision AR coated N-BK7 windows and are designed to operate with a high degree of retardation accuracy over a broad wavelength range. Achromatic polymer waveplates have better angular acceptance and less sensitivity to wavelength change than achromatic quartz-MgF₂ waveplates.

Retardation accuracy of ±λ/100 over entire wavelength range
Less sensitive to wavelength than achromatic quartz-MgF₂ waveplates
Better angular acceptance than achromatic quartz-MgF₂ waveplates
Operates over a broad temperature range

See All Features

Description	Compatibility	Price
10RP42-1 Polymer Achromatic Half-Wave PlatesAchromatic Waveplate, Half-Wave, Polymer, 25.4 mm, 545 nm Center, 460-655 nm	UNIVERSAL	$1,601
10RP42-2 Polymer Achromatic Half-Wave PlatesAchromatic Waveplate, Half-Wave, Polymer, 25.4 mm, 720 nm Center, 615-860 nm	UNIVERSAL	$1,601
10RP42-3 Polymer Achromatic Half-Wave PlatesAchromatic Waveplate, Half-Wave, Polymer, 25.4 mm, 840 nm Center, 715-1000 nm	UNIVERSAL	$1,601
10RP42-4 Polymer Achromatic Half-Wave PlatesAchromatic Waveplate, Half-Wave, Polymer, 25.4 mm, 1060 nm, 900-1270 nm	UNIVERSAL	$1,601

Mounting Options

Manual Rotation Mounts


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


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


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.

Features

High Retardation Accuracy

Our polymer achromatic waveplates 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 N-BK7 optical windows, each with a high efficiency, broadband antireflection coating. This construction ensures excellent transmitted wavefront quality, while minimizing beam deviation and surface reflection losses.

Low Sensitivity to Wavelength Change

Achromatic Zero-Order Waveplates have low sensitivity to incidence angle and wavelength. Retardation changes by less than 1% over a ±7° incidence angle and is maintained to better than ±λ/100 over the entire bandwidth. This is a significant improvement in angular acceptance and less sensitivity to wavelength change than achromatic quartz–MgF₂ wave plates. One drawback however is that the achromatic waveplates have some variation in transmittance vs wavelength due to several polymer layers that are used in each achromatic wave plate. Quartz-MgF₂ offer a higher and more uniform transmittance.

Black Anodized Aluminum Housing

The achromatic waveplate assembly is mounted in a black anodized aluminum housing for protection and ease of mounting, with the retarder fast axis marked for alignment reference. The standard 25.4 mm outer diameter housing has a 10.2 mm diameter clear aperture and is convenient for mounting into Newport rotation mounts.