Polarizers

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
G362503227

G362503227

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE S 532NM; D=20;

3

G335596000

G335596000

Excelitas Technologies

POL. BEAMSPL. CUBE 700-900NM; L=

5

G335592000

G335592000

Excelitas Technologies

POL. BEAMSPL. CUBE 550-700NM; L=

10

G335598000

G335598000

Excelitas Technologies

POL. BEAMSPL. CUBE 550-700NM; L=

3

G362503234

G362503234

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE S 633NM; D=20;

1

G362503447

G362503447

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE S 1064NM; D=20

1

G335593000

G335593000

Excelitas Technologies

POL. BEAMSPL. CUBE 700-900NM; L=

6

G335599000

G335599000

Excelitas Technologies

POL. BEAMSPL. CUBE 700-900NM; L=

1

G362503434

G362503434

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE S 633NM; D=20;

2

G335595000

G335595000

Excelitas Technologies

POL. BEAMSPL. CUBE 550-700NM; L=

7

G362701243

G362701243

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE D 780NM; D=10;

1

G362503427

G362503427

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE S 532NM; D=20;

2

G362021491

G362021491

Excelitas Technologies

ACHR. RETARDER 400-700NM; L/4; M

1

G362701227

G362701227

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE D 532NM; D=10;

1

G362501427

G362501427

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE S 532NM; D=10;

1

G362701234

G362701234

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE D 633NM; D=10;

1

G362501227

G362501227

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE S 532NM; D=10;

1

G362503247

G362503247

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE S 1064NM; D=20

1

G362701434

G362701434

Excelitas Technologies

RETARDATION PLATE D 633NM; D=10;

1

G362021291

G362021291

Excelitas Technologies

ACHR. RETARDER 400-700NM; L/2; M

1

Polarizers

1. Overview

Optical polarizers are devices that select or modify specific polarization states of light. They operate based on principles of electromagnetic wave manipulation, allowing transmission of light with particular oscillation orientations while blocking others. Polarizers play critical roles in imaging systems, display technologies, optical communication, and scientific instrumentation by controlling light polarization to enhance contrast, reduce glare, or enable polarization-sensitive measurements.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

TypeFunctional CharacteristicsApplication Examples
Linear PolarizersTransmit single-plane polarized light, available in dichroic, wire-grid, or birefringent formatsPhotography filters, LCD panels, stress analysis
Circular PolarizersCombine linear polarizers with quarter-wave plates to produce rotating polarization3D cinema systems, optical isolation in lasers
Beam-Splitting PolarizersSeparate input light into orthogonal polarization componentsInterferometry, polarization microscopy
Tunable PolarizersElectrically/optically adjustable polarization statesAdaptive optics, optical communication systems

3. Structure and Composition

Typical polarizer structures include: - Dichroic Polarizers: Organic dye molecules aligned in polymer matrices (e.g., iodine-doped PVA films) - Wire-Grid Polarizers: Nano-scale metallic gratings on glass substrates - Birefringent Crystals: Anisotropic materials like calcite or quartz with polarization-dependent refractive indices - Waveplates: Retardance films (e.g., polycarbonate, quartz) for polarization state conversion Advanced designs incorporate metamaterial layers for enhanced spectral performance and durability coatings for high-power applications.

4. Key Technical Specifications

ParameterDescriptionImportance
Extinction RatioRatio of transmitted intensities between desired and blocked polarization statesDetermines polarization purity (typical: 100:1 to 100000:1)
Wavelength RangeOperational spectral window (e.g., VIS: 400-700nm, NIR: 700-1100nm)Defines application compatibility
Transmission EfficiencyPercentage of desired polarization state passing throughImpacts system signal-to-noise ratio
Laser Damage ThresholdMaximum power density withstand capabilityCritical for high-power laser applications

5. Application Fields

Key industries and equipment: - Imaging: DSLR cameras, machine vision systems, medical endoscopes - Displays: LCD/OLED backlights, augmented reality headsets - Telecommunications: Fiber optic transceivers, DWDM systems - Scientific: Spectroscopy, ellipsometry, quantum optics experiments - Industrial: Stress analysis in manufacturing, polarization-sensitive sensors

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

ManufacturerRepresentative ProductsKey Features
ThorlabsVLP1-400-700Variable extinction ratio linear polarizer (400-700nm)
Edmund Optics59-875High-damage-threshold wire-grid polarizer
Meadowlark Optics10LCR-03Electrically tunable liquid crystal polarizer

7. Selection Recommendations

Key selection factors: - Match wavelength range to source spectrum - Balance extinction ratio and transmission efficiency - Consider environmental factors (temperature, humidity) - Evaluate laser damage threshold for high-power systems - For imaging applications: prioritize angular field-of-view tolerance - Case Study: LCD manufacturing uses dichroic polarizers with >95% transmission at 550nm wavelength.

8. Industry Trends

Current development directions: - Metasurface-based polarizers with subwavelength control - Integration with CMOS sensors for on-chip polarization imaging - Broadband tunable polarizers using liquid crystal and MEMS technologies - High-energy laser-compatible polarizers with >50J/cm damage thresholds - Miniaturization for LiDAR and mobile device applications

RFQ BOM Call Skype Email
Top