• Quarter-wave and half-wave retardance
• Easy to align
• Temperature-insensitive
• Less sensitive to wavelength shift than multi order waveplates
• Made from optical grade crystalline quartz

Zero order wave plates are used to rotate the direction of polarization (with λ/2 plates) or convert linear into circular polarization or vice versa (with λ/4 plates).

Zero order wave plates are made from two thin sections which are polished to different thicknesses to have retardation difference exactly equal to the one required. These component plates have orthogonal optic axis directions, so that the roles of the ordinary and extraordinary rays are interchanged in passing from one plate to the other. Retardation error versus wavelength is reduced therefore they are very useful for dye laser or laser diode application.

Zero order optically contacted wave plates are supplied mounted and have multilayer dielectric anti-reflection coating on both sides maximising the transmission.