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Polymer True Zero Order Half Waveplates

  • Stable retardance over a wide range of AOIs
  • Less sensitiveness to wavelength variations than crystal waveplates
  • Fabricated using Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) cemented between two quartz windows
  • High optical transmissions, retardance accuracy ±λ/100
  • Available as in stocked (wavelengths 405nm to 1550nm, diameters 1/2", 1", 2") and custom versions 
Inquire for custom product  
Code Design Wavelength Retardation Diameter Aperture Coating Mount Unit Price Delivery Cart
20909-001 405nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 2 Weeks
20909-002 442nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 2 Weeks
20909-003 488nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 3 days
20909-004 520nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 3 days
20909-005 532nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 3 days
20909-006 633nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 3 days
20909-007 729nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 2 Weeks
20909-008 780nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 2 Weeks
20909-009 795nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 2 Weeks
20909-010 800nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 2 Weeks
20909-011 808nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 3 days
20909-012 850nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 2 Weeks
20909-013 1030nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 2 Weeks
20909-014 1064nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 2 Weeks
20909-015 1310nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 1050-1700nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 2 Weeks
20909-016 1550nm λ/2 12.7mm 10mm 1050-1700nm AR Coating SM05 Threaded Mount $145.58 3 days
20909-017 405nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 350-700nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 3 days
20909-018 442nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 350-700nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 3 days
20909-019 520nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 350-700nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 3 days
20909-020 532nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 350-700nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 3 days
20909-021 633nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 350-700nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 2 Weeks
20909-022 729nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 650-1100nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 3 days
20909-023 780nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 650-1100nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 3 days
20909-024 795nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 650-1100nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 3 days
20909-025 800nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 650-1100nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 2 Weeks
20909-026 808nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 650-1100nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 3 days
20909-027 850nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 650-1100nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 3 days
20909-028 1030nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 650-1100nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 3 days
20909-029 1053nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 650-1100nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 2 Weeks
20909-030 1064nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 650-1100nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 3 days
20909-031 1310nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 1050-1700nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 2 Weeks
20909-032 1550nm λ/2 25.4mm 20mm 1050-1700nm AR Coating Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring $178.78 2 Weeks
20909-033 405nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-034 442nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-035 488nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-036 520nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-037 532nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-038 633nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 350-700nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 3 days
20909-039 729nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-040 780nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 3 days
20909-041 795nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-042 800nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 3 days
20909-043 808nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 3 days
20909-044 850nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-045 1030nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-046 1053nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-047 1064nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 650-1100nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-048 1310nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 1050-1700nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks
20909-049 1550nm λ/2 50.8mm 45mm 1050-1700nm AR Coating SM2 Threaded Mount $257.78 2 Weeks

Hangzhou Shalom EO’s Polymer True Zero Order Waveplates consist of one birefringent Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) thin film sandwiched between two UV-fused silica protective windows. All polymer wave plates are installed inside standard black anodized mounts standard or SM series threaded housing, and the end face of the mounts and the side of the SM threaded housings are laser marked to indicate the fast axis direction of the wave plate. Our LCP waveplates are great substitutes for crystal waveplates, as polymer waveplates have the advantage of much lower sensitivities responding to the Angles of Incidence (AOI). 

Shalom EO’s polymer waveplates are engineered to be true zero-order waveplates, providing stable phase retardation over an expanded range of AOI deviations and unaffected performance over wavelength shifts. This page specializes in our Polymer Zero Order Half Wave Plates, which are designed to introduce precisely a 1/2 wavelength (a half wavelength) retardation between two orthogonal polarization components of light. The liquid crystal polymer true zero order waveplates or retarders can be used to rotate the polarization direction of the entering lights when light is incident at 45° to the fast (or slow) axis of the 1/2 polymer waveplates.

The true zero order design in combination with the construction in which the polymer thin films are laminated between two fused silica windows makes our polymer quarter wave plates offer wider angular acceptance and more consistent polarization control over a broader spectral range than their multiple-order or crystal counterparts. This is because polymers, in their inherent nature, have low birefringence of minimal wavelength dependence. Shalom EO’s polymer quarter waveplates deliver greater performances over AOIs up to 15°, excellent retardance accuracies of ±λ/100, and superior retardance uniformity.

The polymer thin film fabricated using liquid crystal polymer is cemented between two quartz windows coated with AR coatings, this sandwiched structure and broadband AR coatings ensure both high optical transmission at the design wavelengths and robustness of the polymer waveplates. 

Shalom EO supplies a large selection of Stocked and Custom Liquid Crystal Polymer half Waveplates. Our polymer half wave plates are excellent for conversion between linear and circular polarization as well as corrections of elliptical polarization. For the stocked polymer half wavelength waveplates, numerous design wavelengths ranging from 405nm to 1550nm are available, and we provide multiple standard sizes including diameters 12.7mm (1/2”), 25.2mm (1”), and 50.8mm (2”). More custom designs are accessible upon requests.

Polymer waveplates, especially with cemented structures are not recommended for applications requiring high laser damage thresholds. As an alternative, Shalom EO also provides stock and custom Zero Order Half Wave Plates and Zero Order Quarter Wave Plates fabricated using quartz and MgF2, where these crystal half waveplates and half waveplates offer better retardation precision, higher damage thresholds but reduced angular acceptance.


Related Optomechanical Products:

Hangzhou Shalom EO alo provide Manual Free Space Rotation Mounts compatible with our polymer quarter waveplates and half waveplates, the rotation mounts offer a wide angular rotation range of 360°. The SM threaded structure allow firm and seamless installation with our lens tubes and mounts. 

These versatile standard rotation mounts Shalom EO offer can accommodate round optical elements of different sizes and maximum thicknesses. Hangzhou Shalom EO provides three adaptable sizes of optics compatible to the mount, including dia12.7 mm (maximum thickness 9.3mm), dia25.4 mm (maximum thickness 10.8mm), and dia 50.8 mm (maximum thickness 13mm), making our rotation mount suitable for a wide range of optical applications. The engraved dial have a graduation of 2°to ensure flexible, continuous manual rotation experience and precise alignment is ensured without obstructions for various optics like waveplates or polarizers. 


Application Notes:

The Working Principle of Half Waveplates or Half Wave Length Plates

A Half Waveplate, also known as a Half Wavelength Plate, is a kind of optical retarder that alters the polarization state of light by introducing a phase difference of 180° (or π radians) between two orthogonal polarization components of a light wave. This is achieved through the birefringent properties of the material used to manufacture the waveplate. Lights entering birefringent materials are resolved into two components, each experiencing a different refractive index (the ordinary refractive index and the extraordinary refractive index) and hence traveling at different speeds. The thickness of the waveplate is precisely designed so that the difference in optical path length between the slow and the fast components equals half the wavelength of the incident light.

The primary effect of a half-waveplate is the rotation of the polarization direction of linearly polarized light. When normally incident linearly polarized light enters the half-waveplate with its polarization axis oriented at an angle θ to the optical axis of the waveplate, the half-waveplate rotates the polarization direction by 2θ upon exiting. This function makes half-waveplates particularly useful for controlling the polarization state in various optical systems. For instance, they are commonly used to rotate the polarization angle in laser setups and align polarization with optical components.

In addition to linearly polarized light, a half-waveplate can also change the polarization state of circularly or elliptically polarized light. For circularly polarized light, the half-waveplate converts it into the opposite handedness (e.g., from right-handed to left-handed circular polarization and vice versa). For elliptically polarized light, the waveplate changes the orientation of the ellipse without affecting its eccentricity. These transformations are governed by the input polarization state, the alignment of the waveplate’s optical axis, and the thickness of the waveplate.

Common Specifications:

MaterialsLiquid Crystal Polymer and UV Fused Silica WindowsRetardanceλ/2
Retardance Accuracy±λ/100Retardance Uniformity(RMS)±5nm
Anti-Reflection CoatingRavg<0.5% (@6°AOI)Transmitted Wavefront Error (@633nm)λ/2
Surface Quality(S/D)40/20Angle of Incidence (AOI)±15°
MountsDia25.4mm Retaining Rings/SM Threaded MountsDiameter Tolerance+0.00/-0.05mm
Thickness Tolerance±0.05mmWorking Temperature-20~60°C
780nm, Half Wave, True Zero Order Waveplate, Polymer, Dia50.8mm SM2 Threaded Mount

780nm, Half Wave, True Zero Order Waveplate, Polymer, Dia50.8mm SM2 Threaded Mount

405nm, Half Wave, True Zero Order Waveplate, Polymer, Dia12.7mm SM05 Threaded Mount

405nm, Half Wave, True Zero Order Waveplate, Polymer, Dia12.7mm SM05 Threaded Mount

1030nm, Half Wave, True Zero Order Waveplate, Polymer, Dia25.4mm Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring

1030nm, Half Wave, True Zero Order Waveplate, Polymer, Dia25.4mm Dia 25.4mm Retaining Ring