Zero-Order Waveplate, Quarter-Wave, Quartz, 25.4 mm Diameter, 400 nm

The 10RP04-48 Zero-Order Quartz Wave Plate is a temperature insensitive phase retarder for moderate bandwidth applications. This zero-order wave plate is constructed of two quartz plates, air-spaced to allow for use with high-power lasers. The assembly is held in a 1 inch (25.4 mm) diameter black anodized aluminum housing to protect the optic and permit convenient handling and mounting. The wave plate is antireflection coated to maximize transmission at the 800 nm wavelength, and has a λ/4 retardation. Retardation in zero-order wave plates is insensitive to temperature since thermal changes between the multiple-order wave plates tend to cancel. 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. 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 400 nm. By combining two wave plates whose retardations differ by exactly λ/4 or λ/2, a true λ/4 or λ/2 wave plate 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.

Zero-Order Quarter-Wave Plate Construction

These zero-order wave plates are constructed of two quartz plates, air-spaced to allow for use with high-power lasers. By combining two wave plates whose retardations differ by exactly λ/4, a true quarter wave plate 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. We offer zero-order wave plates 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 direction of the slow axis.

Convert Plane-polarized Light to Circularly Polarized

Quarter-wave waveplates are used to turn plane-polarized light into circularly polarized light and vice versa. To do this, we must orient the wave plate so that equal amounts of fast and slow waves are excited – for example, by orienting an incident plane-polarized wave at 45° to the fast (or slow) axis. On the other side of the waveplate, we again examine the wave at a point where the fast-polarized component is at maximum. At this point, the slow-polarized component will be passing through zero, since it has been retarded by a quarter-wave or 90° in phase. If we move an eighth wavelength farther, we will note that the two are the same magnitude, but the fast component is decreasing and the slow component is increasing. Moving another eighth wave, we find the slow component is at maximum and the fast component is zero. If we trace the tip of the total electric vector, we find it traces out a helix, with a period of just one wavelength. This describes circularly polarized light.

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.