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Waveplates and Retardation Plates

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About Waveplates and Retardation Plates

Waveplates and retardation plates are optical elements with two principal axes, one slow and one fast, that resolve an incident polarized beam into two mutually perpendicular polarized beams. Their operation is based on birefringent linear effect, which is the difference in the refractive indices for the beams with parallel and normal polarization towards the optical axis of the crystalline quartz material being within the waveplate plane. The emerging beam recombines to form a particular single polarized beam.

Waveplates and retardation plates produce half-wave and quarter- wave retardations. Half-wave retardation plates are made of a double-refracting crystal having such a density that a phase difference of one-half cycle is formed between the ordinary and extraordinary elements of light passing through. When used, an angle <I>q </I>results in the polarization plane of the emerging radiation by a 2<I>q</I> angle, thus allowing the half waveplate to be used as an adjustable rotator for the polarization plane. Quarter waveplates are made of a double-refracting crystal having such a density that a phase difference of one-quarter cycle is formed between the ordinary and extraordinary elements of light passing through. They are used for conversion of linearly polarized radiation into circularly polarized radiation when the input polarization is oriented at an angle of 45 degrees to the waveplate optical axis.

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Engineering Web: Waveplates and Retardation Plates

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waveplates
Waveplate also known as retardation plates are optical element having two principal axes, slow and fast, that resolve an incident polarizered beam
See AD Photonics Information
Wave Plates
Wave Plates Zero Order Waveplates Waveplates are used in the synthesis and analysis of polarized light.
See Rocky Mountain Instrument/RMI Laser Information
ColorLink :: Retardation Plates
These affordably priced Retardation Plates utilize optical quality, birefringent polymer films and provide price and performance advantages over
See ColorLink, Inc. Information
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