Buyer's Guide … the one with the Encyclopedia!

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Buying Waveplates

Top-level product category: icon optical components and devices

Related product category: Babinet–Soleil compensators

Waveplates are birefringent optical elements used to alter the polarization state of light. The most common types are quarter waveplates (λ/4 plates) and half waveplates (λ/2 plates). For instance, a half waveplate can rotate a linear polarization state, while a quarter waveplate can generate circular polarization.

Making Good Purchase Decisions

As the most professional photonics purchasing portal, RP Photonics helps you to not only to find all relevant suppliers (not limited to our advertisers), but also to make good purchasing decisions.

NEW: Structured Decision Process

Purchasing involves a lot of responsibility. We recommend that you apply best practice by using the following structured process: Go through the following expandable sections, complete the form and finally come to a purchase decision. You can then print that to a PDF for documenting the process.

Our article on best practices for purchasing and another one explaining this tool give you valuable insights.

1. Understand the technical background

It is important to sufficiently understand the technology before buying.

Use the comprehensive learning resources of RP Photonics:

encyclopedia article waveplates polarization of light fiber polarization controllers Babinet–Soleil compensators polarizers

If you need personal help, contact RP Photonics to get technical consultancy.

2. Define your requirements

It is essential to fully understand and clearly define your requirements before you buy.

We recommend that you develop a list of clear specifications according to your specific needs, against which you can later check the suitability of found product offers:

To help you, we have already listed some aspects we recommend you consider when buying waveplates. Of course, there may be other aspects that are relevant to your specific case.

This list is for your own preparation, and can later (possibly in modified form) be used for quotation requests to suppliers.

Otherwise, you will need to talk to your technical colleagues.

If you cannot sufficiently clarify your requirements, you may want to get technical consultancy from RP Photonics.

You find these buttons in the supplier list below or under "3. Find suitable suppliers".

3. Find suitable suppliers

We suggest three steps:

  • Below, you can find our list of suppliers for waveplates. Use the checkboxes to mark possibly suitable suppliers.
  • The selected suppliers will appear below this list, along with your list of specifications. You can then indicate which specifications they meet according to your research. (You should finalize your specifications before doing this.)
  • Based on the results, you can finally choose a supplier that is hopefully a good enough fit.

Selected suppliers:

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Decision

The most suitable supplier you found:

Comments, e.g. reasons for your choice, or things which still need to be checked:

Suppliers for Waveplates

97 suppliers for waveplates are listed in the RP Photonics Buyer's Guide, out of which 13 present their product descriptions. Both manufacturers and distributors can be registered.

Suppliers with Advertising Package

presenting their product descriptions

Laser solutions for your µ tasks

Workshop of Photonics | WOP
UAB Altechna R&D
Mokslininku St. 6A
08412 Vilnius
Lithuania
Profile page  Website  

See us at LASER World of Photonics 2025 in Munich, June 24–27 (booth B3.413)!

waveplates

WOP offers polarization converters which are exceptional for their ultra-high damage threshold, suitable even for high-power lasers.

S-Waveplate converts linear polarization to radial or azimuthal polarization and circular polarization to an optical vortex.

Main features:

  • converts linear polarization to radial or azimuthal polarization
  • converts circular polarization to an optical vortex
  • high 94% transmission at 1030 nm (no AR coating)
  • stand-alone – no additional optical elements needed
  • high damage threshold: 63,4 J/cm² at 1064 nm, 10 ns and 2,2 J/cm² at 1030 nm, 212 fs
  • suitable for high LIDT applications and high-power lasers
  • reliable and resistant surface – the structure is inside the bulk

Additional waveplate assortment:

  • higher order S-Waveplate: converts linear polarization to higher-order polarization patterns
  • custom waveplate: enable patterned polarization control at the specific point of the laser beam
Product-specific web page

Bringing quality into focus

Knight Optical (USA) LLC
1130 Ten Rod Road
Suite D102
North Kingstown
Rhode Island 02852
United States
Profile page  Website  

See the company profile page for additional contact information.

See us at LASER World of Photonics 2025 in Munich, June 24–27 (booth A3.533)!

waveplates

Knight Optical offers a range of stock and custom waveplates. Our stock catalogue consists of zero and low order quartz waveplates, achromatic waveplates, mica retarders, and plastic retarders. With our custom capabilities we are able to offer a wider variety including multiple order waveplates.

Product-specific web page
Hangzhou Shalom Electro-optics Technology Co., Ltd.
A635, Boke Mansion
No. 9 Xiyuan Road
Xihu District, Hangzhou 310030
China
Profile page  Website  

See us at LASER World of Photonics 2025 in Munich, June 24–27 (hall B1, booth 258)!

waveplates

Hangzhou shalom EO offers an extensive range of off-the-shelf and custom waveplates and retarders including zero-order waveplates, true zero-order waveplates, achromatic waveplates, super achromatic waveplates, dual wavelength zero-order waveplates, low-order waveplates. These waveplates composed of quartz or MgF2 crystal plates enable unrestrained control of polarization states with the additional advantage of high damage threshold. While we also provide polymer true zero order waveplates that are less sensitive to the angles of incidence. The structures of the waveplates can be varied for different requirements, such air spaced, cemented, or optically contacted designs. Retardation values like quarter waveplates, half waveplates, λ/8, or other custom retardance are accessible. Different coatings, standard diameter 1/2”, 1” and 2” mounts, including manual rotation mounts are available.

Fresnel rhombs that create uniform λ/4 or λ/2 retardance over a wider range of wavelengths than possible with birefringent waveplates are also procurable.

Product-specific web page
Optogama
(4Lasers)
Mokslininku str. 6B
08412 Vilnius
Lithuania
Profile page  Website  
waveplates

Optogama offers a wide range of precision-engineered waveplates, including crystalline quartz, achromatic (broadband), and mid-infrared options to meet diverse application requirements.

Crystalline quartz zero-order waveplates—available as air-spaced half-wave and quarter-wave designs—are optimized for specific wavelengths within the 257–1550 nm range. The zero-order configuration ensures reduced sensitivity to temperature and wavelength fluctuations compared to multiple-order alternatives.

Achromatic (broadband) waveplates are designed for stable performance across wider spectral ranges, covering bands from 460 nm to 1700 nm, and are available in both half-wave and quarter-wave versions.

For mid-infrared applications, Optogama supplies monolithic, zero-order waveplates covering 2800–10600 nm (MWIR and LWIR). These are available with standard or custom retardance values and are well-suited for demanding IR systems.

Product-specific web page

Optical components at better price

Sinoptix
Office 16 D, Yujia Mansion
N° 1336 HuaShan Road
Shanghai 200052
China
Profile page  Website  

See us at LASER World of Photonics 2025 in Munich, June 24–27 (booth B1.525)!

waveplates

We offer flat windows waveplates. λ/2 and λ/4 waveplates, custom wavelengths and cuts.

Product-specific web page

The Future Depends on Optics

Edmund Optics
101 East Gloucester Pike
Barrington, NJ 08007
United States
Profile page  Website  

See us at OPIE 25 in Pacifico Yokohama, Japan, April 23–25 (booth F-32), CLEO 2025 in Long Beach (CA), USA, May 4–9 (booth 317), Automate 25 in Detroit (MI), USA, May 12–15 (booth 4400), SPS Italia in Parma, Italy, May 13–15 (hall 5, booth 055), LASER World of Photonics 2025 in Munich, June 24–27 (booth B1.416) and CLEO 2025 in Long Beach (CA), USA, May 4–9 (booth 317)!

waveplates

Edmund Optics offers a variety of waveplates with crystalline or polymer materials, including multiple order, zero order, or achromatic waveplates. Polymer waveplates offer superior performance over a wider range of incidence angles. Multiple order waveplates are ideal for use with monochromatic light that deviates less than 1% of the waveplate’s design wavelength. Zero order retarders offer high performance over wider wavelength or temperature ranges. Achromatic waveplates offer the most constant performance over the widest wavelength or temperature ranges.

Product-specific web page

YOUR KEY to innovation and success

UltraFast Innovations GmbH
Dieselstr. 5
85748 Garching (München)
Germany
Profile page  Website  

See us at LASER World of Photonics 2025 in Munich, June 24–27 (booth B1.543)!

waveplates

AURORA, by UltraFast Innovations (UFI®), is a phase retarder (quarter waveplate) with a four-mirror grazing incidence reflection geometry for the extreme ultraviolet (XUV). It covers the range from 10 to 35 eV or 40 to 85 eV photon energy and reaches >25% transmittivity around 66 eV. A clear aperture of 3 mm allows the low divergent XUV from a high-harmonic-generation HHG cell to pass through without clipping.

Product-specific web page

Lasers, Optics, Electronics. Made in Germany.

ALPHALAS GmbH
Bertha-von-Suttner-Str. 5
37085 Göttingen
Germany
Profile page  Website  
waveplates

ALPHALAS offers unique tunable and standard phase retardation plates (waveplates). A single UVIR type quarter-wave or half-wave plate can be adjusted to the desired phase retardation for an arbitrary wavelength from 150 nm (vacuum-UV) to 6500 nm (far infrared) and the FIR type waveplate from 1 μm to 21 μm. The bandwidth is up-to 200 nm. They replace hundreds of ordinary phase retardation plates required to cover these ultrawide spectral ranges. The tunable waveplates are by design zero-order and can be used for polarization control of broad-spectrum laser sources like femtosecond lasers and OPOs.

Conventional zero-order, low-order and high-order waveplates for all standard wavelengths as well as customized designs and Fresnel rhombs are also available.

Applications span from polarization measurement and control, polarimetry, laser research, spectroscopy up to nonlinear optics.

Product-specific web page

Your sidekick for laser optics development

OPTOMAN
Ukmerges g. 427
14185 Vilnius
Lithuania
Profile page  Website  
waveplates

OPTOMAN offers high quality zero-order air-spaced waveplates, that ensure precise and reliable polarization control across several wavelengths. These waveplates are engineered with an air-spaced design, which significantly enhances their performance by minimizing the impact of thermal effects, ensuring consistent operation even in demanding environments.

The precision engineering of these waveplates allows for stable and reliable performance, making them perfect for a wide range of laser applications, including scientific research.

In-stock waveplates can be found on OPTOSHOP.

Product-specific web page

Your problem is our challenge – flexibility is our standard!

Artifex Engineering GmbH & Co KG
Dortmunder Str. 16–18
26723 Emden
Germany
Profile page  Website  

See us at LASER World of Photonics 2025 in Munich, June 24–27 (booth B2.230)!

waveplates

Artifex Engineering offers a wide range of custom waveplates for many applications. Waveplates, also known as retardation plates, are birefringent optical elements. Our portfolio covers achromatic, low order, zero and true zero order and MID-IR waveplates. Mounts are available for our waveplates on request. For example, we can provide true zero order plates mounted on an annular glass frame. In this manner, a robust optic is available with the full optical properties of a true zero order waveplate. In addition to single components, we will gladly provide functional subunits according to your needs. For example, we can supply isolators comprising a quarter-waveplate and polarizing beamsplitter cube mounted together in a single drop-in unit. Visit our product page for more information on each waveplate. We look forward to your inquiry.

Product-specific web page
Avantier
1100 US-22
North Plainfield, NJ 07060
United States
Profile page  Website  

See us at LASER World of Photonics 2025 in Munich, June 24–27 (booth B1.171B)!

waveplates

Avantier produces microwaveplates with extremely small dimensions, as small as 0.35 mm × 0.35 mm, with a tolerance of ±0.05 mm and a thickness of about 0.19 mm. For more information on our manufacturing limits or to request custom specifications, please contact us.

Product-specific web page

Your Custom Optics Expert

Shanghai Optics Inc.
425 Main St Suite 2E
Metuchen, NJ 08840
United States
Profile page  Website  

Shanghai Optics manufacturers micro-waveplates as small as 0.35 mm × 0.35 mm with tolerance of ±0.05 mm and thickness about 0.19 mm. Please contact us for manufacturing limit or custom specifications.

Product-specific web page

Your reliable partner for photonics innovations!

EKSMA Optics, UAB
Dvarcioniu St. 2B
LT-10233 Vilnius
Lithuania
Profile page  Website  

See us at LASER World of Photonics 2025 in Munich, June 24–27 (booth A2.107) and CLEO 2025 in Long Beach (CA), USA, May 4–9 (booth 205)!

waveplates

We offer a wide choice of zero-order, multiple-order and low-order waveplates made from crystalline quartz. Also, we have dual-wavelength waveplates for Ti:sapphire, Yb:KGW/KYW and Nd:YAG lasers, and achromatic waveplates for tunable lasers.

Product-specific web page

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Other Suppliers

3L-Systems, LLC
Korea
3photon
Lithuania
Profile page  Website  
3W Photonics
United States
Profile page  Website  
Acal BFi
Germany
AceXon
Singapore
Advanced Thin Films
United States
Profile page  Website  
Alien Photonics
Lithuania
Profile page  Website  
Allied Scientific Pro
Canada
Profile page  Website  
Altechna UAB
Lithuania
Profile page  Website  
American Polarizers, Inc.
United States
Barnett Technical Services, LLC 8153 Elk Grove Blvd.
United States
Bernhard Halle Nachfolger GmbH
Germany
Bluebean Optical Tech Ltd.
China
Profile page  Website  
CASTECH
China
CeNing Optics Co., Ltd
China
Claser Photonics Inc.
China
Comar Optics Ltd
United Kingdom
Profile page  Website  
Conoptics
United States
Core Optronics Co., Ltd
China
Profile page  Website  
CPG Optics
China
Crylight Photonics, Inc.
China
Cryslaser Inc.
P.R. China
Profile page  Website  
Crysmit Photonics Co., Ltd.
China
Profile page  Website  
Crystech Inc.
China
CVI Laser Optics
United States
Elliot Scientific Ltd.
United Kingdom
FICHOU
France
FOCtek Photonics, Inc.
China
Focus Technology Co., Ltd.
China
Fuzhou Caston Optronics Co., Ltd.
China
Fuzhou Hundreds Optics Inc.
China
Profile page  Website  
He Rui Optics Co., Ltd.
China
Profile page  Website  
Hellma GmbH
Germany
5th Floor, No. 19 Building
China
Profile page  Website  
Holmarc Opto-Mechatronics
India
Inrad Optics
United States
Profile page  Website  
InStockOptics
Lithuania
JG International
China
Karl Lambrecht Corporation
United States
Laser Research Optics
Layertec GmbH
Germany
Profile page  Website  
LC-Tec
Sweden
Profile page  Website  
Leysop Ltd.
United Kingdom
Profile page  Website  
Litech Optics Co., Ltd.
China
Luceo Co., Ltd.
Japan
Manx Precision Optics
Isle of Man, IM9 2AP
Profile page  Website  
Meadowlark Optics, Inc.
United States
Profile page  Website  
Meller Optics
United States
Metrolux
Germany
MLOPTIC Corp.
China
MOK Optics Co. Ltd.
China
Profile page  Website  
Sichuan MetalMiracle Industry Corp.
China
Profile page  Website  
Newlight Photonics Inc.
Canada
nortus Optronic GmbH
Germany
Profile page  Website  
OptoCity
United States
Orientir, Inc
China
Profile page  Website  
Phoenix Photonics Ltd
United Kingdom
Profile page  Website  
Phosctech Photonics
China
Photonchina
China
Profile page  Website  
Changchun Positive Optics Co., Ltd.
China
Prolog Optics
Israel
Rainbow Research Optics, Inc.
United States
Profile page  Website  
Rising Electro-Optics Ltd.
China
Ross Optical
United States
Shangai Jingsheng Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
China
Shenzhen Zentech Optics Ltd.
China
Profile page  Website  
Sichuan MetalMiracle Industry Corp.
China
Profile page  Website  
Sinoceramics (USA), LLC
United States
Sirah Lasertechnik GmbH
Germany
Solaris Optics S.A.
Poland
Fuzhou Solid Photon Inc
China
STANDA Ltd.
Lithuania
Tian Cheng Optic Co., Ltd.
China
Tempotec Optics Co., Ltd.
China
Tianjin Tengteng Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
China
Profile page  Website  
Tokyo Instruments, Inc.
Japan
Topag Lasertechnik GmbH
Germany
Profile page  Website  
Tower Optical Corporation
United States
ULO Optics Ltd.
United Kingdom
Ultra Photonics
China
Profile page  Website  
Vision Lasertechnik für Forschung und Industrie GmbH
Germany
Wavelength Opto-Electronic (S) Pte Ltd
Singapore
WLoptical Co., Ltd.
China
Hangzhou Yong Hee Photonics Co., Ltd.
China

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