Overview: A Wollaston prism separates light into two separate linearly
polarized outgoing beams with orthogonal polarization. The two
beams will be polarized according to the optical axis of the two
right angle prisms. The Wollaston prism consists of two orthogonal prisms of
birefringent material—typically a uniaxial material such as
Calcite, YVO4 and Crystal Quartz. These prisms are cemented
together on their base to form two right triangle prisms with
perpendicular optic axes. Outgoing light beams diverge from the
prism as ordinary and extraordinary rays due to the differences in
the indexes of refraction, with the angle of divergence determined
by the prisms' wedge angle and the wavelength of the light.
Commercial prisms are available with divergence angles up to 20°
and both output beams are highly polarized with an extinction
ratio of >10 000:1 or >100 000:1 in each output. Wollaston prisms have been used as polarization analyzers as well
as in spectrometers. General Specifications of Wollaston prisms: Material | Calcite, YVO4, Quartz | Wavelength Range | Calcite: 400-2300nm; YVO4: 500-4000nm; Quartz: 400-2300nm | Extinction Ratio | Calcite:<5x10-5; YVO4:<5x10-5; Quartz:<5x10-4 | Surface Quality | 20/10 | Wavefront Distortion | <λ/4@632.8nm | Beam Deviation | <3 arc minutes | Damage Threshold | >5W/cm2CW, 1064nm | Coating | Single Layer MgF2@1064nm | Mount | Black Anodized Aluminium |
Standard Products of Wollaston prisms: Part Number | Material | Wavelength (nm) | Separation Angle (°) | CA (mm) | Mount (mm) | AR Coating | WLP-Q-2-10 | Quartz | 400-2300 | 2.0@980nm | 10.0 | φ25.4X28 | MgF2 | WLP-Q-2-12 | Quartz | 400-2300 | 2.0@980nm | 12.7 | φ25.4X33 | MgF2 | WLP-Q-2-15 | Quartz | 400-2300 | 2.0@980nm | 15.0 | φ30.0X38 | MgF2 | WLP-Q-2-20 | Quartz | 400-2300 | 2.0@980nm | 20.0 | φ38.0X48 | MgF2 | WLP-C-16-08 | Calcite | 400-2300 | 16.0@1064nm | 8.0 | φ25.4X17 | MgF2 | WLP-C-16-10 | Calcite | 400-2300 | 16.0@1064nm | 10.0 | φ25.4X19 | MgF2 | WLP-C-16-12 | Calcite | 400-2300 | 16.0@1064nm | 12.7 | φ25.4X21 | MgF2 | WLP-Y-20-08 | YVO4 | 500-4000 | 20.0@1550nm | 8.0 | φ25.4X17 | MgF2 | WLP-Y-20-10 | YVO4 | 500-4000 | 20.0@1550nm | 10.0 | φ25.4X19 | MgF2 | WLP-Y-20-12 | YVO4 | 500-4000 | 20.0@1550nm | 12.7 | φ25.4X21 | MgF2 |
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