Free Standing Wire Grid Polarizers
Ordering Information
| Part Number | Anodized Aluminum Frame | Wire Diameter (a) | Period (d) | ||
| O.D. (mm) | I.D. (mm) | Thick (mm) | (μm) | (μm) | |
| 57200 | 50 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 12.5 |
| 57201 | 50 | 25 | 10 | 10 | 25 |
| 57202 | 80 | 50 | 12 | 5 | 12.5 |
| 57203 | 80 | 50 | 12 | 10 | 25 |
| 57204 | 105 | 75 | 12 | 5 | 12.5 |
| 57205 | 105 | 75 | 12 | 10 | 25 |
| 57206 | 130 | 100 | 12 | 5 | 12.5 |
| 57207 | 130 | 100 | 12 | 10 | 25 |
| 57100 | 140 | 120 | 12.7 | 10 | 25 |
| 57110 | 140 | 120 | 12.7 | 10 | 50 |
| 57130 | 133.35 | 95.25 | 12.7 | 10 | 25 |
| 57135 | 133.35 | 95.25 | 12.7 | 5 | 12.5 |
For free standing wire grids (unsupported wires), and absorption of radiation in the wires is very low and extremely efficent polarizers can be made to the mid-IR ro millimeter wavelangth region. The only requirement is that the wavelength is much greater than the wire spacing (l >>d). Under these conditions the polarization efficiency is unaffected by small irregularities in the wire spacing. At wavelenghts close to the wire spacing the polarization efficiency drops and becomes a more complex function of the wire diameter and the wire spacing.
When operating at wavelengths significantly larger than the wire spacing (l >>d) small changes in the wire spacing have no effect on the polarazation efficiency.
Tungsten or gold plated tungsten wires of 5, 10, 25 or 50 microns diameter, or beryllium-copper wire of 25 or 50µm, can be wound onto a former and the spacing vaired between 12.5µm and 1.8mm according to customer requirements. The wires can be bonded, using adhesive, or soldering to many types of formers for specilized applications. The formers include conductive types, such as aluminum, stainless steel and invar, non-coducting types , such as tefnol, and special materials, such as glass fiber and molybdenum.
The method of manufacture of these grid polarizers has been improved for the technique originally developed at the United Kingdom National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Free standing wire grid polarizers for high vacuum, high temperture of cryogenic use can be made on request.
Features
- Wide wavelength range : mid IR to mm wavelengths, 20µm - >10mm
- High degree of polarization : >99.9%
- High transmission efficiency
- No beam deviation or dispersion
- Tungsten, gold plated tungsten wires or beryllium copper on metallic or non metallic frames
- Sizes from 10 - 350mm diameter, or square frames
Applications
- Mid to Far-IR polarization studies, for example polymer and semi-condutor materials
- Interferometric beamsplitters, for example Far-IR instrumentation
- Variable attenuation / reflection of polarized sources
- Coupling device for long wavelength lasers (gas discharge of optical pumped)
- X-ray detectorstudies, for example soldered wires or non-conducting printed circuit board
