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Air-Gap Zero-Order Waveplate

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  • Air-Gap Zero-Order Waveplate
  • Air-Gap Zero-Order Waveplate

Air-Gap Zero-Order Waveplate

An air-gap zero-order waveplate is constructed using two quartz plates separated by an air gap within a mounted holder, with their optical axes arranged orthogonally. The zero-order phase retardation is achieved through the thickness variation between these two quartz plates. Such waveplates offer minimal sensitivity to both temperature fluctuations and wavelength changes.

Key Features:

  • High damage threshold
  • Broad temperature bandwidth
  • Wide wavelength bandwidth
  • AR coated on all surfaces and pre-mounted in a holder
  • RoHS compliant

Product Detail

Product Tags

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Parameter Specification
Material Quartz Crystal
Diameter Tolerance +0.0 / -0.2 mm
Surface Quality 20/10 (Scratch/Dig)
Clear Aperture >90%
Wavefront Distortion <λ/8 @ 632.8 nm
Parallelism (per plate) <1 arcsec
Retardation Accuracy <λ/300
Coating AR coated on all surfaces, R<0.25% @ center wavelength
Damage Threshold >10 J/cm², 20 ns, 20 Hz @ 1064 nm

Phase delay curve  : 

Zero-order WP @1064nm

Zero-order WP @355nm

Buying Guide：

Waveplate Type Construction Cement in Optical Path Temperature Bandwidth Wavelength Bandwidth Retardation Accuracy Parallelism Damage Threshold Other Features
Zero-order Waveplate Cemented Yes Wide Wide High Good Low
Optically Contacted No Wide Wide Very High Excellent High
Air-spaced No Wide Wide Very High Excellent Very High
True Zero-order Waveplate Cemented Yes Wide Wide Very High Excellent Low
Single Plate No Ultra-wide Wide Very High Excellent Very High Large acceptance angle
Single-plate High-power Waveplate Single Plate No Ultra-wide Wide Very High Excellent Very High Large acceptance angle
Multiple-order Waveplate Single Plate No Narrow Narrow Moderate Excellent Very High
Dual-wavelength Waveplate Single Plate No Narrow Narrow Moderate Excellent Very High
Mid-IR Zero-order Waveplate Single/Two Plates No Wide Wide Moderate Excellent High Suitable for 2.5-6.0 μm range
Achromatic Waveplate Cemented Yes Wide Ultra-wide High Good Low
Air-spaced No Wide Ultra-wide High Excellent Very High
Wedge Waveplate Two Plates Yes Wide Wide Very High - Low Eliminates etalon effect

How to Select a Waveplate?

First, determine the phase retardation: half-wave, quarter-wave, or a special phase retardation?

Second, confirm the size and wavelength.

Finally, select the waveplate type. If you need the waveplate to operate over a wide temperature range and broad wavelength bandwidth, choose zero-order or true zero-order waveplates. Among zero-order waveplates, cemented zero-order types are relatively cost-effective, while optically contacted and air-spaced zero-order waveplates feature high laser damage threshold. True zero-order waveplates deliver the best parallelism and wavefront distortion, ideal for critical optical systems. If you have no strict requirements on wavelength bandwidth and temperature bandwidth, multiple-order waveplates offer a high cost-performance ratio. If a bandwidth over 100 nm is required, achromatic waveplates are the recommended option.

Since most waveplates have parallelism better than 1 arcsec, etalon effects may occur. For applications where this effect is undesired, wedge waveplates can solve this problem and eliminate optical back-reflection.

Additionally, quartz crystal exhibits optical rotation effect, which can rotate the polarization state of polarized light. This component is known as a quartz rotator, available in left-handed and right-handed versions.
wave plate Buying Guide
Choosing the right waveplate is critical for your optical system. This comprehensive comparison chart evaluates True Zero-order, Zero-order, Achromatic, Multiple-order Air-spaced, Optically Contacted, and Cemented waveplates across four key parameters: retardation accuracy, price, operating bandwidth, and damage threshold. Use this guide to select the optimal retarder for your specific laser application.
Model Type Diameter (mm) Design Wavelength (nm) Phase Retardation Mount Size (mm)
WPZ2410-266-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 266 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2412-266-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 266 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2420-266-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 266 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2425-266-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 266 λ/2 Φ30×6
WPZ2410-355-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 355 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2412-355-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 355 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2420-355-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 355 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2425-355-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 355 λ/2 Φ30×6
WPZ2410-405-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 405 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2412-405-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 405 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2420-405-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 405 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2425-405-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 405 λ/2 Φ30×6
WPZ2410-488-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 488 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2412-488-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 488 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2420-488-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 488 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2425-488-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 488 λ/2 Φ30×6
WPZ2410-532-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 532 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2412-532-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 532 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2420-532-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 532 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2425-532-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 532 λ/2 Φ30×6
WPZ2410-980-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 980 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2412-980-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 980 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2420-980-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 980 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2425-980-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 980 λ/2 Φ30×6
WPZ2410-1030-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 1030 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2412-1030-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 1030 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2420-1030-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 1030 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2425-1030-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 1030 λ/2 Φ30×6
WPZ2410-1053-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 1053 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2412-1053-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 1053 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2420-1053-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 1053 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2425-1053-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 1053 λ/2 Φ30×6
WPZ2410-1064-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 1064 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2412-1064-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 1064 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2420-1064-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 1064 λ/2 Φ25.4×6
WPZ2425-1064-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 1064 λ/2 Φ30×6
WPZ4410-266-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 266 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4412-266-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 266 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4420-266-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 266 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4425-266-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 266 λ/4 Φ30×6
WPZ4410-355-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 355 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4412-355-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 355 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4420-355-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 355 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4425-355-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 355 λ/4 Φ30×6
WPZ4410-405-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 405 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4412-405-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 405 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4420-405-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 405 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4425-405-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 405 λ/4 Φ30×6
WPZ4410-488-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 488 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4412-488-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 488 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4420-488-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 488 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4425-488-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 488 λ/4 Φ30×6
WPZ4410-532-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 532 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4412-532-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 532 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4420-532-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 532 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4425-532-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 532 λ/4 Φ30×6
WPZ4410-980-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 980 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4412-980-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 980 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4420-980-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 980 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4425-980-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 980 λ/4 Φ30×6
WPZ4410-1030-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 1030 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4412-1030-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 1030 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4420-1030-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 1030 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4425-1030-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 1030 λ/4 Φ30×6
WPZ4410-1053-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 1053 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4412-1053-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 1053 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4420-1053-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 1053 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4425-1053-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 1053 λ/4 Φ30×6
WPZ4410-1064-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 10 1064 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4412-1064-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 12.7 1064 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4420-1064-M25.4 Air-spaced Waveplate 20 1064 λ/4 Φ25.4×6
WPZ4425-1064-M30 Air-spaced Waveplate 25.4 1064 λ/4 Φ30×6


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