Wave plates, also known as retardation plates, alter the polarization of the incident beam by first resolving it into two perpendicularly polarized components. When the beam emerges, after passing through a wave plate, it recombines to form a single beam with an altered polarization state. Birefringent, single crystals are used to produce this effect, because they provide the two differing velocities required. Material thickness becomes the adjustable parameter for wave plates designed to operate in specific applications. For nearly thirty years Gooch and Housego has produced the world’s best and largest cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenide wave plates for the infrared (IR). IR wave plates can be supplied as multiple order, net-zero order, true zero-order, off–axis, or in achromatic sets. Wave plates fabricated from quartz and other exotic materials for UV-VIS and NIR applications are also available. If you have any questions about which wave plate is best for your application, we encourage you to contact us.
- Multiple-order
- Net-zero-order
- Achromatic
- Infrared
- Visible
