Zero-Order Waveplates

Type: Transmissive Design Wavelength: 355 nm Clear Aperture Dimension: 14mm

A high-power variable optical attenuator consists of one or two thin-film polarizing beamsplitters and a zero-order half-wave plate. Rotating the half-wave plate continuously changes the transmitted fraction of the output light. Transmission and reflection versions are available. The transmission version provides a dynamic attenuation range from 0.5% to 95%; the reflection version provides a range from 0.25% to 99%. High-power variable optical attenuators are primarily used to adjust output power in high-power environments.

Type: Reflective Design Wavelength: 355 nm Clear Aperture Dimension: 14mm

A high-power variable optical attenuator consists of one or two thin-film polarizing beamsplitters and a zero-order half-wave plate. Rotating the half-wave plate continuously changes the transmitted fraction of the output light. Transmission and reflection versions are available. The transmission version provides a dynamic attenuation range from 0.5% to 95%; the reflection version provides a range from 0.25% to 99%. High-power variable optical attenuators are primarily used to adjust output power in high-power environments.

Type: Reflective Design Wavelength: 266 nm Clear Aperture Dimension: 14mm

A high-power variable optical attenuator consists of one or two thin-film polarizing beamsplitters and a zero-order half-wave plate. Rotating the half-wave plate continuously changes the transmitted fraction of the output light. Transmission and reflection versions are available. The transmission version provides a dynamic attenuation range from 0.5% to 95%; the reflection version provides a range from 0.25% to 99%. High-power variable optical attenuators are primarily used to adjust output power in high-power environments.

Type: Transmissive Design Wavelength: 532 nm Clear Aperture Dimension: 14mm

A high-power variable optical attenuator consists of one or two thin-film polarizing beamsplitters and a zero-order half-wave plate. Rotating the half-wave plate continuously changes the transmitted fraction of the output light. Transmission and reflection versions are available. The transmission version provides a dynamic attenuation range from 0.5% to 95%; the reflection version provides a range from 0.25% to 99%. High-power variable optical attenuators are primarily used to adjust output power in high-power environments.

Transmission range [General page-top description, without specific subtype/material identification]: 330-2100 nm Coefficient of Thermal Expansion [General page-top description, without specific subtype/material identification]: 7.5x10⁻⁶ Density [General page-top description, without specific subtype/material identification]: 2.51 g/cubic centimeter

Waveplates are made from birefringent materials. The speeds of the o ray and the other ray through the material are inversely proportional to their refractive indices. Their speed difference produces a phase difference when they recombine; at a particular wavelength, this is determined by the retarding thickness. Transmission range: 330–2100nm. Thermal-expansion coefficient: 7.5 x10⁻⁶/K. Density: 2.51g per cubic centimeter. Half-wave plates: thickness gives a phase difference of L/2 wavelengths for true zero order, or multiples of l/2 wavelengths for multiple order. A linearly polarized incident beam remains linearly polarized, but its angle to the optical axis is twice the incident angle. A half-wave plate therefore acts as a continuously adjustable polarization rotator, used to rotate the polarization plane, for electro-optic modulation, and with a polarizing cube as a variable-ratio beamsplitter. Quarter-wave plates: thickness gives a phase difference of L/4 wavelengths for true zero order, or multiples of l/4 wavelengths for multiple order. When the angle q between the incident electric-field vector and the retarding principal plane is 45, the output is circularly polarized. Double passage by mirror reflection makes a quarter-wave plate act as a half-wave plate, rotating the polarization plane through a particular angle. Applications include generating circular or linear polarization from circular or elliptical states, optical pumping, suppressing unwanted reflections, and optical isolation.