The Arcoptix LC variable phase retarder is a transmissive element
with an electrically tunable optical phase retardance. Optical
retardations
are often obtained with piezoelectric mirrors. However, this option is
not ideal if robust and compact design is necessary. This product offer
an interesting alternative
especially when working with polarized light (which is often the case
when working with lasers). The ARCoptix phase retarder is a thin
transmissive element causing
minimal losses and can be simply placed within the optical path of
your system. The more, its optical retardation is electrically tunable
with the LC driver of ARCoptix
(but it can also be driven with simple laboratory alternative power
supply). Alternatively, it can also be used as optical valve (for a
narrow wavelength range) or as
Polarization state controller (PSC). To summarize :
- Electrically Tunable
- Transmissive element
- No moving parts
- Compact and robust device
- Weak absorption in VIS
- Needs polarized light
- Optical valve (with extra polarizers)
- Polarization state controller
10mm aperture Scientific grade LC variable
20mm aperture Scientific grade LC variable phase retarder
The liquid crystal variable phase shifter can be compared to a
variable waveplate. By addressing it with the right voltage, it is able
to provide any phase shift
from zero to several times the light wavelength. They can be used
throughout the visible and the near infrared region (400nm to 1800nm)
without losses higher than 15%.
Thanks to the use of thick substrate (scientific grade) and a special
liquid crystal bend were are capable to offer robust equipment with
minimal wavefront distortion
and power absorption.
Retarder type selection
According to your needs, you can select essentially between three categories of products:
| Retarder Type | Specificities | Applications | Price |
| Industrial grade | - Spacer (few microns) over the aperture
- Large aperture
- Thin substrates
- Phase distortions (spherical)
- Low beam deviation
| - Polarization management
- Polarization vision
| ** |
| Scientific grade | - Low phase distortions
- No beam deviation
- No spacers over the aperture
- Aperture 10 mm
- Thick substrates
- Broadband AR coating
| - Interferometry
- Metrology
- Use in an imaging plane
- Collimated laser beam
| *** |
| Custom | - Larger apertures
- High switching speeds
- Large quantities/low price
- Zero phase shift
| - Custom adapted cells for industrial applications
- Specific scientific applications
| * / **** |