Air spaced double-plate structure
Wide Wavelength Bandwidth
High temperature stability and better retardation steadiness than low order wave plates
High damage threshold (500 MW/cm2) supporting high power lasers
Various retardations: Half wave plate ,Quarter wave plate, Octadic wave plate, or full wave plate
An Air Spaced Zero Order Wave plate refers to a type of wave plate where the two wave plate elements are separated by an air gap. This design eliminates any physical contact between the wave plate components.Unlike a multiple order or low order wave plates which produce the desired retardation together with a surplus of several wavelength shifts, the terminal net retardation gained from a zero order wave plate is the difference between the two individual retardations respectively made from the two constituent wave plates, which is a function of the thickness difference between the two wave plates. This effectively offsets the unfavorable retardation shifts occurring along with the fluctuations of the input wavelength, since the detrimental shifts in the first plate will be compensated by the second plate. Therefore zero order wave plates are substantially far less sensitive to changes in temperature and wavelength than their multi-order counterparts. However, changes in the angle of incidence will still induce corresponding phase shifts.
The advantage of an Air Spaced Zero Order Wave plate lies in its ability to provide a high degree of accuracy and stability in retardation values. The air gap minimizes any potential birefringence or wavelength dependence that may occur due to the interaction between the wave plate materials.
By carefully selecting the materials for the wave plate elements and precisely controlling the thickness of the air gap, Air Spaced Zero Order Wave plates can achieve superior performance in terms of wavefront quality and retardation accuracy. This makes them suitable for applications requiring precise polarization control, such as laser systems, optical measurement devices, and polarization-sensitive imaging systems.
The operational wavelengths broadly range from 200nm to 2000nm (Quartz). The air-spaced modules, with a construction of a designed air gap in between the two constituent plates, feature exceptionally promoted damage thresholds suitable for high-power laser systems.
| Material | Crystal Quartz |
| Dimension Tolerance | +0.0/-0.2mm |
| Surface Quality | 20/10 scratch and dig |
| Clear Aperture | >90% central area |
| Wavefront Distortion | <λ/8@632.8nm |
| Parallelism | <5 arc second |
| Retardation Tolerance | <λ/200 |
| AR Coating | R<0.25%@central wavelength |
| Damage Threshold | >10J/cm2, 20ns, 20Hz @1064nm |
| Standard Wavelength | 266nm, 355nm, 632.8nm, 780nm, 808nm, 980nm, 1064nm, 1310nm, 1550nm |
| Wave plate Type | Structure | With Glue | Temperature Bandwidth | Wavelength Bandwidth | Retardation Tolerance | Parallelism | Damage Threshold | Other Features | |
| Middle Infrared Zero Order Wave plate | Single/Two Plate | No | Large | Wide | General | Better | High | Using in 2.5-6.0μm Range | |
| Multiple Order Wave plate | Single Plate | No | Low | Narrow | General | Better | Higher | ||
| Zero order Wave plate | Cemented | Two Plate | Yes | Large | Wide | High | Good | Low | |
| Optically Contacted | Two Plate | No | Large | Wide | Higher | Better | High | ||
| Air Spaced | Two Plate | No | Large | Wide | Higher | Better | Higher | ||
| Ture Zero order Wave plate | Cemented | Two Plate | Yes | Large | Wide | Higher | Better | Low | |
| Single Plate | Single Plate | No | Larger | Wide | Higher | Better | Higher | Wide Acceptance Angle | |
| Dual Wavelength | Single Plate | No | Low | Narrow | General | Better | Higher | ||
| Achromatic Wave plate | Cemented | Two/Multi Plate | Yes | Large | Very broad | High | Good | Low | |
| Air Spaced | Two/Multi Plate | No | Large | Very broad | High | Better | Higher | ||
What is the application of Air Spaced Zero Order Wave plate ?
Laser Systems: Air Spaced Zero Order Wave plates are used in laser systems for polarization control, beam steering, and wavefront correction. They help optimize the laser beam's polarization state, minimize wavefront distortions, and enhance the overall beam quality.
Optical Communication: In optical communication systems, Air Spaced Zero Order Wave plates can be utilized for polarization control and management. They help maintain the polarization state of light signals, which is crucial for efficient transmission and reception of optical signals.
Optical Metrology: Air Spaced Zero Order Wave plates are employed in optical metrology instruments and systems. They enable precise control and manipulation of polarized light for measurements, interferometry, and other optical characterization techniques.
Imaging and Microscopy: In imaging systems and microscopy, Air Spaced Zero Order Wave plates play a role in controlling the polarization state of light for polarization-sensitive imaging techniques. They enhance image contrast and facilitate polarization-based analysis.
Spectroscopy: Air Spaced Zero Order Wave plates find applications in spectroscopic measurements where precise polarization control is necessary. They aid in adjusting and optimizing the polarization state of light sources or samples, enabling accurate spectroscopic analysis.
Optical Instrumentation: Air Spaced Zero Order Wave plates are used in various optical instruments where precise polarization control is essential. This includes devices such as polarimeters, ellipsometers, and optical modulators.
It's important to note that the specific application of Air Spaced Zero Order Wave plates can vary depending on the requirements of the particular system or experiment. The wave plates' high precision, stability, and minimal optical distortions make them valuable components in numerous scientific, industrial, and research applications.
How to choose a suitable wave plate ?
Kindly read our: " Wave plates Selection Guide " to choose the suitable wave plate for your optical equipment.
