Waveplates

[ZeroPoint]

Where does everyone get their waveplates from? Is there a preferred source or maybe even a Chinese company with budget plates? Also, since I've never used one before I'm not really sure what to look for. The application is going to be for two 500mw mitsu's so I know I need a half waveplate for the 635nm range but what is this talk of low order, zero order and multiple order waveplates? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks



Luke

[Bradfo69]

Talk to Dave at Lasershowparts. I found that he has them, they're just not listed on his site. (I think there are a number of things Dave often has that aren't always listed on his site.)

I can't answer the more technical question of low, zero or multiple orders - I seem to just know where/how to buy things!

[planters]

Zero,
You are correct, you want 1/2 wave plates. These will rotate the electric field of a laser beam without altering it's appearance. You should prefer zero order as opposed to multiple order because it is much less sensitive to temperature variations and will work over a broader wavelength range in case your diode is lasing at a wavelength a little off of the design wavelength of the plate. You want it anti-reflection coated for the wavelength of interest. Then, there is air spaced vs contacted and this further improves the performance, but I have used both and a good contacted wave plate works as well for me. Tower Optics makes a fantastic air spaced wave plate (you actually can't see the laser as it passes through it...$345!).

[masterpj]

You can get a good waveplate from Dave at http://lasershowparts.com/store/
If you cannot find them on the site use the contact email.
You can also get them in a mount.

[dave]

I have some left, not many, but a few mounted ones in red and blue