Optical Polarizers
WISOPTIC Advantages of Optical Polarizers
• Wide variety of linear polarizers over UV, Visible and IR spectral ranges.
• Linear polarizers include laminated polymer film,
laminated sheet, Polarcor dichroic glass, and Calcite crystal types.
• Antireflective coating (improve transmission, reduce glare, and readability).
• Pigtail (a polarization rotator which has a short length of optical
fiber permanently fixed to a component).
• Broadband connections (has a uniform optical characteristics
over a wide area of the spectrum in the polarization rotator).
Polarization is an important characteristic of light. Polarizers are key optical elements for controlling your polarization,
transmitting a desired polarization state while reflecting, absorbing or
deviating the rest. There is a wide variety of polarizer designs, each
with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Polarizer | Material | Illustration | Properties & Application |
Glan-Taylor Polarizer | α-BBO(190-3500) Calcite(350-2300) YVO4(450-5000) | Air-spaced. Cutting angle close to Brewster ±s Angle. The extraordinary ray passes through straightly with little deviation. Sealed mount without escape windows. Suits for low to medium power application where the rejected beam is not required. | |
Glan- Laser | α-BBO(190-3500) Calcite(350-2300) | Better than Glan Taylor polarizer. Mounted with escape windows. Suits for high power application. | |
Glan-Thompson | Calcite(350-2300) | Cemented. Suits for low power application. Special design for ratio of L/A (length/aperture) guarantees wide acceptance angle. | |
Wollastom | Calcite(350-2300) | Cemented. Both ordinary and extraordinary beams are deviated. Suits for low power application and where large deviation is required. | |
Rochon | α-BBO | Broad wavelength range. |
Comparison of Different Materials of Polarizers
YVO4 | Calcite | α-BBO | Quartz | |
Transparency Band | 500-4000 nm | 350-2300 nm | 220-3000 nm | 200-2300 nm |
Crystal Type (uniaxial) | Positive | Negative | Negative | Positive |
Mohs Hardness | 5 | 3 | 4.5 | 7 |
Thermal Expansion Coefficient | aa=4.43x10-6/K | aa=24.39x10-6/K | aa=4x10-6/K | aa=6.2x10-6/K |