1/2 wave plates are ready to go

[dave]

Hey guys,

I have been speaking to the optics mob that Simon hooked up the PBS and prisms thru about some 1/2 wave plates, and so here we go.

I have tested one made for 445nm with one of the PBS cubes from a group buy, and they work very well. Very little loss between the plate and PBS combined.

Minimum order is 100 wave plates, and at this quantity we are looking at $45AUD a plate including paypal fees and airmail shipping for a mixed order.

Will need to get wavelength specific 1/2 wave plates, so I am thinking of the following wavelengths.

445nm
532nm
640nm
660nm

Who is interested? I would be thinking 445 and 660nm will be the more popular, and 532 being less popular, but I could be wrong.

Show interest below

WPGB.JPG

[Geetone]

Dave, what are those waveplates' purpose?

[dave]

Dave, what are those waveplates' purpose?

To rotate polarisation of a polarised source. So you can start with 2 vertically polarised diodes, and rotate one so they can be combined with a PBS cube..

[Geetone]

To rotate polarisation of a polarised source. So you can start with 2 vertically polarised diodes, and rotate one so they can be combined with a PBS cube..

Dave, I'm sorry for offtop, but couldn't that be achieved by simply rotating the diode? oO Or I've misunderstood something...

[dnar]

Correct me if I wrong, but I think these rotate the polarisation without rotating the beam profile.

[dave]

Correct me if I wrong, but I think these rotate the polarisation without rotating the beam profile.

dead right, makes say a quad red a lot easier, as you don't have to stack beams vertically

[Geetone]

Correct me if I wrong, but I think these rotate the polarisation without rotating the beam profile.

I just wanted to know if I'm not gonna need these when I get two 642nm diodes from Dave's GB to combine them with a PBS.

[Doc]

Dave, I'm sorry for offtop, but couldn't that be achieved by simply rotating the diode? oO Or I've misunderstood something...

You can BUT, the diode's output is oval, so if you rotate the diodes you can't get the beams close enough together when knife edging. The wave plate rotates the polarisation but doesn't rotate the oval beam profile.

More or less a must combining 6+ diodes

Sneaky or what

[Doc]

One @ 660 for me please Davidsan

[Geetone]

You can BUT, the diode's output is oval, so if you rotate the diodes you can't get the beams close enough together when knife edging. The wave plate rotates the polarisation but doesn't rotate the oval beam profile.

Sneaky or what

It seems I've got much more to learn...

[olive13]

Hi dave

interested by 1 waveplate for 532nm and one for 640nm if coatings are designed for each wavelengh.
and depending size / Round or square
In fact, I'll need of 10mmx10mm square (H Polar) before PBS and telescope for my 16x red diode laser project.

Thanks

Olivier

[RedlumX]

This is great news for holographers, as waveplates for 445nm are very (!) hard to get. Waveplates in combination with a PBS are the very best way to split a beam with a continuously variable intensity ratio. They are a must for any serious holographer.

So mark me down for two 660nm and two 445nm - assuming that they are AR coated both faces, ok?

I got a few 532nm to spare/exchange, but I guess no one would have 445nm's to spare.

[dnar]

Hi Dave, do you mind showing me a diagram of how you would use these with say 6 x diodes? I am trying to get the whole thing in my head.

[mophead]

I'm in for 1 ea, 445 and 660.

[DjMagnus]

Great price, Im in for a 660 plate! Any more specific details on these?

[dave]

This is great news for holographers, as waveplates for 445nm are very (!) hard to get. Waveplates in combination with a PBS are the very best way to split a beam with a continuously variable intensity ratio. They are a must for any serious holographer.

So mark me down for two 660nm and two 445nm - assuming that they are AR coated both faces, ok?

I got a few 532nm to spare/exchange, but I guess no one would have 445nm's to spare.

Here are the specs - I should have posted them in the first post!

Material: Quartz-Crystal
Dia.: 12.50mm
Thickness: 0.5mm
Retardation：1/2 Lambda or Type: 1/2
Surface quality: 20/10
Parallelism: 1 sec
Retardation-tolerance lambda/300
Transmitted wavefront disortion: Lambda/8
BBAR: 430nm-670nm R<0.5%, 445nm, 532nm

Ill double check and confirm AR coating on both sides

[LaNeK779]

Hi Dave, do you mind showing me a diagram of how you would use these with say 6 x diodes? I am trying to get the whole thing in my head.

Here you go
http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...odes+waveplate

[dave]

Hi Dave, do you mind showing me a diagram of how you would use these with say 6 x diodes? I am trying to get the whole thing in my head.

I used a wave plate in the 6 diode 445 I made up a few weeks back

[edit] LaNeK779 beat me to it

[dnar]

Cool, I missed that thread! Maybe this is what I should try with 660nm as my quad red is only making 1W and I need more!

[flecom]

wow the australian dollar is worth more than the american dollar... I am going to go cry in the corner now

anyhow, I am definitely down for a pair of 445 plates if you still have those multi-diode setups available

[dnar]

wow the australian dollar is worth more than the american dollar... I am going to go cry in the corner now

anyhow, I am definitely down for a pair of 445 plates if you still have those multi-diode setups available

Tell me about it! The day CNI quoted me on a 532nm module I replied stating "I need to pay you today!!!!". $1.05 exchange rate!

[SrS]

Thickness: 0.5mm

Never seen a wave plate but is it really that thin?
I'm interested in 2x 640nm maybe more.

[andy_con]

2x 660nm for me please

[mccarrot]

Also interested in a couple of 650nm waveplates.

but can you be a little bit more clear about "very little loss"
I still remember the old laserwave dichro's with "very little loss"

Is it possible to get thicker waveplates? as a 0,5mm wave plate can break very easy

[badger1666]

how is a wave plate set up for use ??
does it need to be the right way around to use ??
does in need rotating so the polarisation is correct for use with a pbs ??
will it need a special mount to acheive the above ??

if anyone could let me know the rules to using one of these would be cool