Quartz Waveplates for the UV

Bi-refringent materials such as crystal quartz can be used to retard the passage of the extra-ordinary ray resulting in a change of phase difference between the s– and p– states of polarisation.  By controlling the thickness of plates of quartz it is possible to achieve precise amounts of retardation. A quarter-wave plate has a net retardation of (2k+1) p/2 and changes the polarisation state from linear to circular or vice-versa.  A half-wave plate has a net retardation of (2k+1)p and rotates the plane of polarisation by 90°. 

These waveplates are quartz plates with known amounts of retardation at a specific wavelength. The retardation tolerance is λ/500.  They are available un-mounted or mounted in a metal cell.  It is also possible to provide zero order waveplates, in which two plates of opposite retardation are crossed and air-spaced to provide a zero order net retardation of p/2   (quarter wave) and p  (half wave).  These air-spaced zero order waveplates are mounted in a metal cell.

Waveplates are normally provided as circular plates of 10, 20 or 30 mm diameter, providing a clear aperture of 8, 18 and 25 mm respectively when mounted.  Inch sizes can also be supplied.   Each plate has a small flat indicating the direction of the optic axis.  The nominal thickness of these plates is 1 mm (2mm for zero-order).  They are anti-reflection coated at the design wavelength.

Waveplates can be supplied for any UV wavelength including these popular lines: 248, 266, 308, 337, 355, 364 nm.

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