Waveplates

How to Control Polarization with Waveplates

Waveplates (retardation plates; ref: The Photonics Dictionary) are optical elements with two principal axes, slow and fast, that shift the phase of a polarized beam to change its polarization state. The emerging beam re-combines to form a particular single polarized beam. Ross Optical provides wave plates that produce full-, half-, and quarter-waves of retardation.

These are essential components in:

• Laser systems

• Optical communications

• Polarization microscopy

• Any system using polarization-sensitive detection or optical isolators

• Ring holder mounts are available for easy integration into optical assemblies.

Quarter Wave Plate
When linearly polarized light is input at 45 degrees to the axis of a quarter waveplate, the output is circularly polarized, and vice versa.

Half Waveplate
A half waveplate rotates linearly polarized light to any desired orientation. The rotation angle is twice the angle between the incident polarized light and optical axis.