Saint-Gobain Crystals has introduced a range of high-performance, thin-film plate polarizers optimized for use with Nd:YAG, Nd:YVO4 and Nd:YLF lasers operating at 1064, 1053, 532, 355, and 266 nm. These new Alpine Research Optics–brand optics use a first-surface coating to separate orthogonal polarizations with a high extinction ratio, are designed to work at Brewster's angle and can be tilt tuned to optimize performance. They have a high transmission efficiency, as well as an excellent damage threshold and mechanical durability characteristics. These polarizers are suitable for use in industrial applications, including micromachining and marking of metals, semiconductors, plastics and dielectrics in microelectronics, biomedical, automotive, avionics and research applications.
Saint-Gobain Crystals
Hiram, Ohio
www.arocorp.com
Posted by C. Settino, www.laserfocusworld.com
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PRESS RELEASE
High-performance plate polarizers for solid-state lasers
Boulder, CO. (May 11, 2009) – Saint-Gobain Crystals has introduced a range of high-performance, thin-film plate polarizers optimized for use with Nd:YAG, Nd:YVO4 and Nd:YLF lasers operating at 1064, 1053, 532, 355, and 266 nm. These new Alpine Research Optics-brand optics use a first-surface coating to separate orthogonal polarizations with a high extinction ratio (≥200:1), and are designed to work at Brewster's angle (typically 56° angle of incidence), and can be tilt tuned (±3°) to optimize performance. These optics also feature a high transmission efficiency (≥96%), as well as excellent damage threshold and mechanical durability characteristics.
Saint-Gobain Crystals typically provides polarizers on 28.6 mm x 14.3 mm x 3.2mm fused silica substrates. The optics are specified to have λ/10 flatness and λ/8 wavefront distortion on transmission (at 633 nm), and a surface quality of 10-5. In addition to this standard product line, polarizers with custom sizes, shapes and performance characteristics over the wavelength range of 266 nm to 1550 nm can be produced upon request.
The optical performance and extended lifetime of these polarizers make them suitable for use in a wide variety of industrial applications. These include micromachining and marking of metals, semiconductors, plastics and dielectrics in microelectronics, biomedical, automotive, avionics and research applications.
Saint-Gobain Crystals is a world leader in the design and implementation of crystal-based technology for radiation detection, lasers and optics, sapphire substrates and reinforcements. Saint-Gobain Crystals' world headquarters are in Hiram, Ohio. With operations in North America, Europe and Asia, Saint-Gobain Crystals engineers materials and supplies components and sub-systems for the international medical imaging, lighting, energy exploration, electronics, aerospace and security markets.
