Waveplate Order
Calculate waveplate order, retardation, and wavelength-dependent performance.
Sellmeier fit: G. Ghosh, Opt. Commun. 163, 95 (1999), doi:10.1016/S0030-4018(99)00091-7; 198–2053 nm, room temperature.
Results
Birefringence Δn = nₑ − nₒ0.00916
Retardation |Δn|·d915.98 nm
Phase retardation10.464 rad (599.5°)
Waves |Δn|·d/λ1.6654
Order1
Fraction of a wave left over0.6654 (239.5°)
Acts asno standard plate (not ¼, ½ or 1 wave)
Fast axisordinary (⊥ optic axis)
Zero-order QWP / HWP15.01 / 30.02 μm
Transmission between crossed polarizers
Plate axes at 45° to the polarizer: T = sin²(Γ/2).
Retardance against wavelength, folded to one wave
Model and references
Exact. The equations are exact within the stated assumptions, or are a standard's tabulated values. The results are as good as the inputs. About the tiers
Order and leftover fraction of |Δn|·d/λ; crossed-polarizer transmission sin²(Γ/2) with the plate at 45°; Δn(λ) from published Sellmeier fits. Not modelled: tilt, temperature, reflections.
- Hecht E. (2002). Optics, 4th ed., §8.4 Birefringence and §8.7 Retarders. Addison-Wesley.
- Ghosh G. (1999). Dispersion-equation coefficients for the refractive index and birefringence of calcite and quartz crystals. Opt. Commun. 163, 95–102. doi:10.1016/S0030-4018(99)00091-7
- Dodge M. J. (1984). Refractive properties of magnesium fluoride. Appl. Opt. 23, 1980–1985. doi:10.1364/AO.23.001980
- Malitson I. H., Dodge M. J. (1972). Refractive index and birefringence of synthetic sapphire. J. Opt. Soc. Am. 62, 1405 (abstract); formula in Dodge M. J. (1986), Handbook of Laser Science and Technology vol. IV, part 2, p. 30, CRC Press.
- Lomheim T. S., DeShazer L. G. (1978). Optical-absorption intensities of trivalent neodymium in the uniaxial crystal yttrium orthovanadate. J. Appl. Phys. 49, 5517–5522: YVO₄ dispersion formula. doi:10.1063/1.324471
- Zelmon D. E., Small D. L., Jundt D. (1997). Infrared corrected Sellmeier coefficients for congruently grown lithium niobate and 5 mol% magnesium oxide-doped lithium niobate. J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 14, 3319–3322. doi:10.1364/JOSAB.14.003319
- DeVore J. R. (1951). Refractive indices of rutile and sphalerite. J. Opt. Soc. Am. 41, 416–419. doi:10.1364/JOSA.41.000416