There are three main types of optical waveplates: crystal waveplates, polymer waveplates, and optical fiber waveplates. Crystal waveplates, such as quartz waveplates, are the most widely used due to their stable performance, mature manufacturing processes, and affordable price. Crystal waveplates work by using the birefringence of crystals like quartz to modify the polarization state of light, which is useful for many applications. Photonchina manufactures a complete range of quartz waveplates at different wavelengths and orders for uses such as optical fiber communication, fiber sensing, and projection.

1. www.photonchinaa.com sales@photonchinaa.com
PHOTONCHINA
Types of optical waveplates.
Crystal waveplate, polymer waveplate and optical fiber waveplate are three types of
waveplates used in various applications such as optical fiber communication, fiber sensing,
photoelasticity, precision measurement, projection and display.
Fiber waveplate is made of birefringent fiber, panda polarization maintaining fiber, for instance,
with a certain length.
Crystal waveplate, like quartz waveplate, however, has been the most widely chosen to put
into real practice due to its stable performance, maturity of manufacturing and affordable price.
Here is how crystal waveplate works.
Birefringence of crystals, quartz crystal here, can modify the polarization state of light which is
very useful in many applications. This type of optical component is called birefringent
waveplate (quartz waveplate, retardation plate, waveplate or retarder).
The velocities of the extraordinary and ordinary rays through the birefringent materials vary
inversely with their refractive indices. The difference in velocities gives rise to a phase
difference when the two beams recombine. In the case of an incident linearly polarized beam
this is given by a=2d(ne-no)/(-phase difference; d-thickness of waveplate; ne, no-refractive
indices of extraordinary and ordinary rays respectively; -wavelength). At any specific
wavelength the phase difference is governed by the thickness of the waveplate.
Photonchina manufactures and supplies a complete range of quartz waveplates: octadic-wave
(/8), quarter-wave (/4), half-wave (/2) and full-wave () plates at true zero order, zero order
and multiple order (low order). The types ranging from High power waveplate, Achromatic
waveplate to Dual wavelength waveplate etc.