These achromatic zero-order wave plates consist of two different birefringent crystals — crystalline quartz and magnesium fluoride (MgF2) — in an air-spaced design. Compared to zero-order quartz wave plates, achromatic quartz-MgF2 wave plates offer better retardation accuracy over broadband wavelength ranges.
Achromatic quartz-MgF2 wave plates are less expensive than achromatic polymer film wave plates and also feature higher damage thresholds.
Achromatic Quartz-MgF2 Zero-Order Wave Plates provide a much higher degree of retardation accuracy than regular zero-order quartz wave plates. Achromatic Quartz-MgF2 Wave Plates operate over a broad wavelength range, compared to the single wavelength performance of zero-order quartz wave plates.
The assembly is mounted in a 25.4 mm or 30 mm black anodized aluminum housing for protection and ease of mounting, with the retarder fast axis marked for alignment reference. The standard 25.4 mm outer diameter is convenient for mounting into Newport rotary mounts. The larger diameter waveplates are designed for ultrafast laser applications.
Achromatic Quartz-MgF2 Zero-Order Wave Plates consist of crystalline quartz and magnesium fluoride (MgF2) crystals, each with a highly efficient broadband antireflection coating, in an air-spaced design. This construction ensures excellent transmitted wavefront quality, while minimizing beam deviation and surface reflection losses. Because of the air-space design, our Achromatic Quartz-MgF2 Wave Plates have a higher damage threshold than achromatic polymer film wave plates.
As Ultrafast Amplifiers evolve to higher and higher powers, there is a need for larger diameter optics with broadband performance. Our 15RPxx-x 30 mm diameter Achromatic Zero-Order Quartz-MgF2 Waveplates address this need. Available in half or quarter wave retardance, the air spaced waveplates offer high damage resistance and low dispersion. Optimized for the Spectra-Physics Insight™ Laser, the 10RP5x-4 waveplates are designed for a very broad wavelength range of 630-1350 nm. Customers have a choice of λ/2 or λ/4 retardations.