Tag Archives: waveplates

Types of Waveplates

Waveplates (retardation plates or phase shifters) are made of materials which exhibit birefringence. The velocities of the extraordinary and ordinary rays through the birefringent materials vary inversely with their refractive indices. The difference in velocities gives rise to a phase difference when the two beams recombine. At any specific wavelength the phase difference is governed … Continue reading

02-Apr-2023 Blog, CRYSTECH, Optics

Phase Shifting Mirrors: An Alternative to Traditional Waveplates

Laser systems are growing increasingly complex, and laser intensities are becoming higher than ever before. Due to these advances, conventional quartz waveplates are beginning to approach their limits. The reasons for this are that the waveplates are bounded by the Laser Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) of the intrinsic material and the physical size of naturally … Continue reading

09-Feb-2022 Blog, Manx Precision Optics (MPO), Optics
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