Waveplate Principles
Download Principles Retarders are used in applications where control or
Key Features
Meadowlark Optics is pleased to offer a selection of quarter and half-wave achromatic retarders that span the UV, visible, near IR and IR portions of the spectrum. Two multi-order crystalline retarders, one made of crystalline quartz and the other magnesium fluoride, are combined in a subtractive mode to give an effective zero-order waveplate.
By a careful choice of waveplate thicknesses, retardance dispersion is balanced to give a nearly constant retardance (in waves) over a broad range of wavelengths. The useable wavelength range is defined to give a retardance value within λ/100 of the nominal value. Custom designs with larger achromatic ranges or deeper UV wavelengths are available on request.Retarder Material: Quartz & Magnesium Fluoride
Retardance: λ/4 or λ/2
Temp. Coefficient of Retardance: λ/500 per ˚C
Transmitted Wavefront Distortion: ≤ λ/4
Surface Quality: 40 – 20 scratch-dig
Beam Deviation: ≤ 1 arc-min
Reflectance (per surface): ≤ 0.5 % at normal incidence
Storage Temperature: – 40 ˚C to + 75 ˚C
Threshold: 2 J/cm², 10 ns, 1064 nm
Item # | Mount | Size | Wavelength | Retardance | Clear Aperture | Thickness | Lead Time | Quote |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CQM-050-UV | Mounted | 0.500 in. (12.70 mm) | 395-465 | λ/4 | ≥ 0.400 in. (10.16 mm) centered | Please Inquire | ||
CHM-050-UV | Mounted | 0.500 in. (12.70 mm) | 412-475 | λ/2 | ≥ 0.400 in. (10.16 mm) centered | Please Inquire | ||
CQM-050-VIS | Mounted | 0.500 in. (12.70 mm) | 475-590 | λ/4 | ≥ 0.400 in. (10.16 mm) centered | Please Inquire | ||
CHM-050-VIS | Mounted | 0.500 in. (12.70 mm) | 500-650 | λ/2 | ≥ 0.400 in. (10.16 mm) centered | Please Inquire | ||
CQM-050-NIR | Mounted | 0.500 in. (12.70 mm) | 600-900 | λ/4 | ≥ 0.400 in. (10.16 mm) centered | Please Inquire | ||
CHM-050-NIR | Mounted | 0.500 in. (12.70 mm) | 600-840 | λ/2 | ≥ 0.400 in. (10.16 mm) centered | Please Inquire | ||
CQM-050-IR | Mounted | 0.500 in. (12.70 mm) | 690-2050 | λ/4 | ≥ 0.400 in. (10.16 mm) centered | Please Inquire | ||
CHM-050-IR | Mounted | 0.500 in. (12.70 mm) | 1190-1660 | λ/2 | ≥ 0.400 in. (10.16 mm) centered | Please Inquire | ||
CQ-050-UV | Unmounted | 0.500 in. (12.70 mm) | 395-465 | λ/4 | ≥ 0.400 in. (10.16 mm) centered | Please Inquire | ||
CH-050-UV | Unmounted | 0.500 in. (12.70 mm) | 412-475 | λ/2 | ≥ 0.400 in. (10.16 mm) centered | Please Inquire |
Bi-Crystalline Achromats are similar in achromatic performance to our polymer achromats in the visible, but they excel in the IR. They have higher power handling capability than our polymer achromats and can with stand higher storage temperatures. Their field of view is narrow compared to polymer achromats. Typically, they cannot be expected to meet their retardance accuracy for rays whose incidence angles exceed 1.5°. If you must have the performance of a Bi-Crystalline Achromat and a large field of view, contact us. We have a proprietary design that can be your polarization solution.
SPECIFICATIONS |
|
Retarder Material |
Quartz & Magnesium Fluoride |
Retardance |
λ/4 or λ/2 |
Temp. Coefficient of Retardance |
λ/500 per ˚C |
Standard Wavelengths – Quarter Wave |
|
Ultraviolet |
395 – 465 nm |
Standard Wavelengths – Half Wave |
|
Ultraviolet |
412 – 475 nm |
Transmitted Wavefront Distortion |
≤ λ/4 |
Surface Quality |
40 – 20 scratch-dig |
Beam Deviation |
≤ 1 arc-min |
Reflectance (per surface) |
≤ 0.5 % at normal incidence |
Storage Temperature |
– 40 ˚C to + 75 ˚C |
Threshold |
2 J/cm², 10 ns, 1064 nm |
ORDERING INFORMATION |
||
Mounted |
||
Clear Aperture |
Diameter |
Part Number |
Half Wave |
||
0.40 |
1.00 |
CHM – 050 |
Quarter Wave |
||
0.40 |
1.00 |
CQM – 050 |
Unmounted |
||
Clear Aperture |
Diameter |
Part Number |
Half Wave |
||
0.40 |
0.50 |
CH – 050 |
Quarter Wave |
||
0.40 |
0.50 |
CQ – 050 |
We offer standard Bi-Crystalline Achromatic Retarders to cover 4 regions of the spectrum: UV, VIS, NIR, IR
Please specify wavelength region when placing order.
Download Principles Retarders are used in applications where control or
Meadowlark Optics Basic Polarization Techniques and Devices © 2005 Meadowlark