Custom Waveplates

JDSU provides a full range of polarization components that control the phase of light and are critical in many applications that use polarized light, such as projection and head-mounted displays, information data storage, microscopy, and biomedical instrumentation. Our polarization components include custom waveplates, quarter-wave plates (QWPs), half-wave plates (HWPs), large-area waveplates, and very small (5 nm) to large retardance magnitude waveplates.

Using proprietary liquid crystal polymer (LCP) material and processes, JDSU produces true zero-order waveplate products and custom retarders with outstanding benefits and reliability over conventional optical retarders. A key benefit of LCP technology is the ability to customize retardance levels so that, in addition to QWPs or HWPs, small-retardance values are achievable with excellent orientation accuracy and uniformity. Small-retardance products, or trim retarders, are used in liquid crystal-based projection displays to compensate for residual birefringence in liquid crystal microdisplays, and can enhance system contrast by up five times better than the original performance.

Another benefit is that our zero-order waveplates-single, monolithic plates applied directly onto a very large (up to 200 mm diameter) substrate-are generally less sensitive to angle of incidence, operating thermal conditions, and wavelength than traditional multiorder waveplates.  

In addition, if required by a specific application, such as converging or diverging beams of light, JDSU waveplates can achieve flat retardance of  ±2 nm for a cone angle of ±30 degrees by combining a C-plate retarder (retarder with out-of-plane optical axis) to an A-plate retarder (retarder with in-plane optical axis). The C-plate retarder is based on form birefringent thin film dielectric stack enabled by our innovative high-precision coating equipment. The C-plate retarder is integrated monolithically with LCP retarders, or can be supplied as a standalone component where required.  

Additional customization options are possible upon request.

Birefringent Contrast Enhancer