Meller Sapphire Waveplates Extend IR Polarization Control

PROVIDENCE, RI--(Marketwire - Oct 16, 2012) -  Meller Optics, Inc. has introduced custom manufactured low order waveplates made from sapphire to extend IR polarization control into the infrared for use with YAG and other IR laser systems.

Meller Sapphire Waveplates change a laser beam polarization state from linear to circular or vise versa and are highly resistant to chemicals, scratches, shock, and fluctuating temperatures. Ideal for high power IR and visible lasers, they feature Moh 9 hardness which is second only to diamond, 10-5 scratch-dig surface quality, and ≤ 1.0 arc/sec. parallelism.

A/R coated on both sides for maximum transmission, Meller Sapphire Wave-plates provide λ/4 and λ/2 retardation with tolerances of > λ/300 @ 632 µm, > λ/400 @ 1.06 µm, and > λ/1000 @ 2.94 µm. Offered in custom sizes from 10 to 30 mm in "A" or "M" plane configurations, these waveplates can be as thin as 0.4 mm and < 25 mm dia. with transmitted wavefront of > λ/10 @ 632.8 nm.

Meller Sapphire Waveplates are priced from $350.00 each, depending upon size and quantity. Price quotations are available upon request.

About Meller Optics, Inc.

Founded in 1921, Meller Optics has been providing high quality optics to defense, medical, laser, and industrial markets for 90 years now. Specializing in the grinding and polishing of hard, durable materials such as sapphire and ruby, the company has also developed high-speed, low-cost finishing processes for a variety of laser glasses, fused silica, zinc selenide, germanium, silicon, fluorides, and ceramic materials. Configurations include windows, substrates, lenses, domes, and prisms. Meller Optics is ISO 9001:2008 certified and in addition to providing standard, off-the-shelf products, they custom fabricate components that meet exacting specifications from delicate, difficult to work with optical materials. They also supply quality Microlux Alumina polishing abrasives and Gugolz optical polishing pitch.