Quarter Wave Plate, Multiple-Order, Quartz, 12.7 mm Diameter, 632.8 nm

The 05RP14-24 Multiple-Order Quarter Wave Plate is a crystal quartz optic designed to differentially retard the phase of a polarized beam. With the proper phase shift, this waveplate can be used to convert linear polarization into circular polarization. This 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) diameter wave plate is 1 mm thick and has λ/4 (90°) retardation. It is antireflection coated to maximize transmission at 632.8 nm. When using multiple-order wave plates, several items should be considered. A wave plate of practical thickness produces a multiple of λ/4 or λ/2 retardation. Higher orders cause retardation to vary dramatically with wavelength. Wave plates are sensitive to temperature changes. A typical multiple-order wave plate has a temperature coefficient of 0.0015λ/°C, compared to 0.0001λ/°C for a zero-order wave plate, so tighter temperature control will be required. Precise adjustment of retardation is possible by tilting the wave plate. Tilting about the slow axis increases retardation, while tilting about the fast axis reduces retardation.