Air Spaced Zero Order Waveplates

Minimal Wavelength Sensitivity: The zero-order design offsets unfavorable retardation shifts occurring along with input wavelength fluctuations, making it far less sensitive to changes in wavelength compared to multi-order waveplates.

Temperature Stability: The design also minimizes sensitivity to temperature changes, ensuring stable performance in various environmental conditions.

High Damage Threshold: The air-spaced modules feature exceptionally high damage thresholds, making them suitable for high-power laser systems.

Versatile Applications: Available in half, quarter, and octadic waveplate versions, our Zero Order Waveplates cater to a wide range of optical applications.

Broad Operational Wavelength Range: With operational wavelengths ranging from 200nm to 2000nm for Quartz and 190nm to 7000nm for MgF2, our waveplates are suitable for various optical systems.

Customizable Options: Both off-the-shelf and custom versions are available, with standard specifications and customizable options to meet specific application requirements.

Applications: Polarization Control, Circular Polarization, Nonlinear Optical Systems, Optical Sensors and Phase Shifters, High-Power Laser Systems, etc.

Kingwin Optics’ Zero Order Waveplate is a precision optical component consisting of two waveplates made from high-quality Quartz or Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2), with their optical axes orthogonally aligned. This unique design results in a terminal net retardation that is the difference between the two individual retardations obtained from the two constituent waveplates, offering distinct advantages over traditional multiple-order or low-order waveplates.

Specifications:

Material Quartz or MgF2
Wavelength 200-2000nm (Quartz),  190-7000nm (MgF2)
Retardation λ/4 or λ/2
Aperture 18mm
Surface Quality 20/10 S/D
Parallelism <1 arc Sec
Retardation Tolerance λ/60-λ/200(λ<400nm), λ/200-λ/400(400nm<λ<700nm), λ/400-λ/600(λ>700nm)
Damage Threshold >500 MW/cm2
Coating AR coating
Mounted Diameter 25.4mm (1 inch)

 

Advantages:

  • Minimal Wavelength Sensitivity: The zero-order design offsets unfavorable retardation shifts occurring along with input wavelength fluctuations, making it far less sensitive to changes in wavelength compared to multi-order waveplates.
  • Temperature Stability: The design also minimizes sensitivity to temperature changes, ensuring stable performance in various environmental conditions.
  • High Damage Threshold: The air-spaced modules feature exceptionally high damage thresholds, making them suitable for high-power laser systems.
  • Versatile Applications: Available in half, quarter, and octadic waveplate versions, our Zero Order Waveplates cater to a wide range of optical applications.
  • Broad Operational Wavelength Range: With operational wavelengths ranging from 200nm to 2000nm for Quartz and 190nm to 7000nm for MgF2, our waveplates are suitable for various optical systems.
  • Customizable Options: Both off-the-shelf and custom versions are available, with standard specifications and customizable options to meet specific application requirements.

Applications:

  • Polarization Control: Half Wave Zero Order Waveplates rotate the polarization plane of linearly polarized light, making them ideal for polarization control applications.
  • Circular Polarization: Quarter Zero Order Waveplates transform linear polarization into circular polarization or vice versa, essential for applications requiring circular polarization.
  • Nonlinear Optical Systems: Octadic Waveplates, with a retardation of lambda/8, are extensively used in nonlinear optical systems, optical time-multiplexing systems, and special interferometers.
  • Optical Sensors and Phase Shifters: The precise phase control offered by Zero Order Waveplates makes them suitable for optical sensors and synchronous phase shifters.
  • High-Power Laser Systems: The high damage thresholds of air-spaced modules make them ideal for use in high-power laser systems.

The terminal net retardation of a Zero Order Waveplate is the difference between the two individual retardations obtained from the two constituent waveplates, which is a function of the thickness difference between the two waveplates. This design minimizes unfavorable retardation shifts due to input wavelength fluctuations and temperature changes, making them far less sensitive than multi-order waveplates.

Our Zero Order Waveplates are available in both off-the-shelf and custom versions, with standard specifications including 18mm apertures and 25.4mm mounts. The air-spaced modules feature exceptionally high damage thresholds, suitable for high-power laser systems. Additionally, we offer Zero Order Waveplates with NOA61 Cemented structures and Optically Contacted, glue-free structures to cater to various application requirements.