A polarizer or also known as a wave plate or retarder is an optical device that changes the polarization state of light waves passing through it.
Two common waveplates are half-waveplates, which change the polarization direction of linearly polarized light, and quarter-waveplates, which convert linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light and vice versa. Quarter wave plates can also be used to generate elliptical polarization.
Polarizers, or waveplates as they are also called, are constructed of birefringent materials (such as quartz) that have different indices of refraction for light linearly polarized along one or the other of two specific perpendicular crystallographic axes.
Polarizing elements are used in imaging applications to reduce glare or hot spots, enhance contrast, or perform stress assessment. Polarization can also be used to measure changes in magnetic fields, temperature, molecular structure, chemical interactions or acoustic vibrations. Polarizers are used to transmit a specific polarization state while blocking all others. Polarized light can have linear, circular or elliptical polarization.
The behavior of waveplates (i.e. half wave plates, quarter wave plates, etc.) depends on the thickness of the crystal, the wavelength of the light and the change in refractive index. By appropriately choosing the relationship between these parameters, a controlled phase shift can be introduced between the two polarization components of a light wave, thereby changing its polarization.
High performance thin film polarizers are manufactured using state-of-the-art thin film vapor deposition coating technology for optimum performance. Polarizers are available with a polarizing coating on both sides of the polarizer, or with a polarizing coating on the input side and a high-quality multi-layer anti-reflection coating on the output side.
Post time: Oct-31-2022