Polarization components are used to separate a beam of light into its orthogonal polarization states for isolation or routing. Our catalog includes both cube and plate polarizers designed to perform under a range of operating conditions, including high power, broad bandwidth, low dispersion, and high extinction. This is achieved using ion beam sputtered and e-beam dielectric coatings, some capable of greater than 1000:1 extinction ratio. When combined with our precision manufacturing, they result in laser quality plate polarizers with better than λ/8 transmitted wavefront error, and 10 – 5 surface quality.
Standard and laser quality polarizing cube beamsplitters available from the catalog use one of several contacting technologies: optical contacting, optical adhesive contacting, or our own Chemically Activated Direct Bonding™ (CADB®). All have antireflection coatings for maximum throughput.
All of these options and more are available when you consider a custom polarizer design. Not only can we work in other materials and at larger or smaller dimensions, but we can optimize the wavelength of the coating to your specific application, or design it for low absorption. Custom polarizing beamsplitter cubes can be manufactured with very high precision angular tolerance and low transmitted wavefront error to minimize impact on the transmitted beam. As in our catalog line, we can design both plate and cube polarizers to operate at either the Brewster angle or 45° angle of incidence. Let us work with you to find the right combination of coating type, construction, and angle of operation to balance your application and budget.
Capabilities
| |
Standard |
Custom Options |
| Types |
Plate, cube, Brewster angle |
Meniscus, ball, precision aspheric lenses |
| Materials |
N-BK7, UV-grade fused silica, N-SF2 |
MgF2, CaF2, Suprasil 1, optical crown glass, Infrasil 301, calcite, N-SF11 |
| Dimensions |
12.7 to 50.8 mm |
3 to 300 mm |
| Extinction Ratio |
100:1 to 1000:1 |
≥ 2000:1 |
| Coatings |
- Laser line polarizing
- Broadband polarizing
- High energy
- Wavelengths from 248 to 1300 nm
|
Other wavelengths (193 - 2100 nm) |
| Quality |
Standard and laser quality |
See manufacturing tolerances below |
| Construction (cubes) |
- Optical adhesive contacting
- Chemically activated direct bonding
- Optical contacting
|
|
Cube Polarizer Manufacturing Capabilities**
Surface Tolerances
|
Precision |
Laser Quality |
High Precision |
| Surface quality (scratch - dig) |
20 - 10 |
10 - 5 |
5 - 2 |
| Surface roughness (Å, RMS) |
20 |
5 |
2.5 |
Flat Irregularity,
(P-V @ 633 nm before coating) |
λ/4 |
λ/10 |
λ/20 |
| Dimensional Tolerances |
Standard |
Precision |
High Precision |
| Length & width (mm) |
+0.000 / -0.250 |
± 0.150 |
+0.000 / -0.010 |
| Thickness (mm) |
+0.000 / -0.250 |
± 0.150 |
± 0.005 |
| Angular deviation |
< 3 arc min |
≤ 10 arc sec |
≤ 0.5 arc sec |
| Clear Aperture |
≥ 85% |
≥ 90% |
≥ 95% |
Plate Polarizer Manufacturing Capabilities**
Surface Tolerances
|
Precision |
Laser Quality |
High Precision |
| Surface Quality (scratch - dig) |
40 - 20 |
10 - 5 |
5 - 2 |
| Surface roughness (Å, RMS) |
20 |
5 |
1 |
| Surface Figure (P-V @ 633 nm before coating) |
λ/2 |
λ/10 |
λ/25 |
| Dimensional Tolerances |
Commercial |
Precision |
High Precision |
| Diameter (mm) |
+0.000 / -0.250 |
+0.000 / -0.100 |
+0.000 / -0.010 |
| Length & width (mm) |
± 0.050 |
+0.000 / -0.125 |
+0.000 / -0.010 |
| Thickness (mm) |
± 0.250 |
± 0.100 |
± 0.010 |
| Angular deviation |
< 5 arc min |
≤ 1 arc sec |
≤ 0.5 arc sec |
| Centration (ETV, mm) |
0.05 |
0.01 |
0.005 |
| Clear Aperture |
≥ 85% |
≥ 90% |
≥ 95% |
| Spherical Tolerances |
Commercial |
Precision |
High Precision |
| Spherical irregularity (P-V @ 633 nm before coating) |
λ/2 |
λ/5 |
λ/100 |
| Spherical radius (fringes) |
5 |
3 |
0.5 |
** Note: The general tolerance specifications above are intended to guide determination of appropriate tolerances based both on relative cost and manufacturability. Part-specific tolerances will vary depending on size, material, shape and aspect ratio. Tighter tolerances may be possible, so please contact us to discuss your custom specifications. All specifications do not need to be from a single column, though trade-offs may be required in order to meet the desired combination of cost and performance.
