High-Power, Laser Line, Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes


  • High Damage Threshold (See the Damage Thresholds Tab)
  • Coated for 355, 405, 532, 633, 780 - 808, or 1064 nm
  • 1/2" and 1" Cubes Available

PBS25-780-HP

780 - 808 nm, 1" Cube

PBS25-1064-HP

1064 nm, 1" Cube

1" Beamsplitter Cube Shown on a
KM100PM Kinematic Prism Mount
and Held with a PM4 Clamping Arm

PBS12-532-HP

532 nm, 1/2" Cube

Related Items


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Common Specifications
Material UV Fused Silicaa
Extinction Ratiob Tp:Ts > 2000:1
Transmission Efficiency Tp > 95%
Reflection Efficiency Rs > 99.5%
Transmitted Beam Deviation <5 arcmin
Reflected Beam Deviation 90° ± 5 arcmin
Clear Aperture 1/2" Cubes: > 11.43 mm x 11.43 mm
1" Cubes: > 22.86 mm x 22.86 mm
Surface Quality 20-10 Scratch-Dig
  • Click Link for Detailed Specifications on the Substrate
  • The extinction ratio (ER) is the ratio of maximum to minimum transmission of a sufficiently linearly polarized input. When the transmission axis and input polarization are parallel, the transmission is at its maximum; rotate the beamsplitting cube by 90° for minimum transmission.

Features

  • Design Wavelengths Available: 355, 405, 532, 633, 780 - 808, or 1064 nm
  • High Damage Threshold (See the Damage Thresholds Tab for Details)
    • 355 nm Beamsplitters: 3 J/cm2
    • 405 nm Beamsplitters: 70 W/cm
    • 532, 780 - 808, and 1064 nm Beamsplitters: >10 J/cm2
  • Epoxy-Free Optical Contact at Beamsplitter Interface Minimizes Absorption and Scattering Losses
  • 1/2" (12.7 mm) or 1" (25.4 mm) Cube Size

Thorlabs offers high-power, polarizing beamsplitter cubes designed for use at 405 nm, 633 nm, the 780 - 808 nm range, or with one of three major Nd:YAG harmonics (355 nm, 532 nm, or 1064 nm). These 1/2" (12.7 mm) and 1" (25.4 mm) cubes have a dielectric V-coating on four faces that minimizes reflectance over the specified wavelengths (see the Graphs tab for transmission and reflectance plots).

The beamsplitter interface of these cubes uses an epoxy-free, optical contact bond, which minimizes absorption and scattering loss. Each surface is polished to a high flatness, and this precision polishing of the internal surfaces is what enables them to achieve optical contact. As such, Thorlabs is able to manufacture compact, thermally stable beamsplitter cubes with high transmission and minimal beam displacement.

The beamsplitter coating is only applied to one of the two diagonal surfaces prior to optical contacting. Light can be input into any of the polished faces to separate the S- and P-polarizations. For ease of use, each part is engraved with the item number and a set of arrows indicating one of the possible beam paths (as seen in the images below).

The cubes separate the S- and P-polarization components by reflecting the S component at the dielectric beamsplitter coating while allowing the P component to pass. For the highest polarization extinction ratio, use the transmitted beam, which offers an extinction ratio of Tp:Ts > 2000:1.

Please refer to the BS Cube Mounting tab above for information on mounting options and compatibility. Alternatively, Thorlabs also offers 1" pre-mounted high-power beamsplitter cubes. Please see the Polarizer Guide tab for a full list of our polarizers and beamsplitters.


Click to Enlarge

1" Beamsplitter Cube Shown in C6WR Cage Cube with B4CRP Rotation Platform and B6C Clamp
(Refer to the BS Cube Mounting tab for Other Options)
Engraving
Engraving Detail
Click to Enlarge

The engraving on the top of the optic indicates the item # and one of the possible beam paths.

Transmission and Reflection Data

This tab contains plots for the typical transmission of our high-power polarizing beamsplitter cubes and plots of the reflectance for the AR coatings used on the outer surfaces of the cubes.


Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
405 nm V-Coating Reflectance Graph
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
Transmission Graph: 405 nm High Power Beamsplitting Cube
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
405 nm V-Coating Reflectance Graph
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
Transmission Graph: 532 nm High Power Beamsplitting Cube
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
532 nm V-Coating Reflectance Graph
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
Transmission Graph: 633 nm High Power Beamsplitting Cube
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
532 nm V-Coating Reflectance Graph
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
Transmission Graph: 780 nm High Power Beamsplitting Cube
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
780 nm V-Coating Reflectance Graph
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
Transmission Graph: 1064 nm High Power Beamsplitting Cube
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
1064 nm V-Coating Reflectance Graph
Click to Enlarge

Click Here for Raw Data
Damage Threshold Specifications
Coating Designation
(Item # Suffix)
Damage Threshold
-355-HP Pulsed 3 J/cm2 (355 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.299 mm)
-405-HP CWa 70 W/cm (405 nm, Ø30 µm)b
-532-HP Pulsed >10 J/cm2 (532 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.43 mm)
CWa 350 W/cm (532 nm, Ø1 mm)b
-780-HP Pulsed >10 J/cm2 (810 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.062 mm)
-1064-HP Pulsed >10 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø1.00 mm)
CWa 3000 W/cm (1064 nm, Ø30 µm)b
  • The power density of your beam should be calculated in terms of W/cm. For an explanation of why the linear power density provides the best metric for long pulse and CW sources, please see the "Continuous Wave and Long-Pulse Lasers" section below.
  • The stated damage threshold is a certification measurement, as opposed to a true damage threshold (i.e., the optic was able to withstand the maximum output of the laser with no damage).

Damage Threshold Data for Thorlabs' High-Power, Polarizing, Beamsplitter Cube

The specifications to the right are measured data for the coatings used in Thorlabs' high-power, polarizing beamsplitter cubes. Damage threshold specifications are constant for a given coating type, regardless of the size of the cube.

 

Laser Induced Damage Threshold Tutorial

The following is a general overview of how laser induced damage thresholds are measured and how the values may be utilized in determining the appropriateness of an optic for a given application. When choosing optics, it is important to understand the Laser Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) of the optics being used. The LIDT for an optic greatly depends on the type of laser you are using. Continuous wave (CW) lasers typically cause damage from thermal effects (absorption either in the coating or in the substrate). Pulsed lasers, on the other hand, often strip electrons from the lattice structure of an optic before causing thermal damage. Note that the guideline presented here assumes room temperature operation and optics in new condition (i.e., within scratch-dig spec, surface free of contamination, etc.). Because dust or other particles on the surface of an optic can cause damage at lower thresholds, we recommend keeping surfaces clean and free of debris. For more information on cleaning optics, please see our Optics Cleaning tutorial.

Testing Method

Thorlabs' LIDT testing is done in compliance with ISO/DIS 11254 and ISO 21254 specifications.

First, a low-power/energy beam is directed to the optic under test. The optic is exposed in 10 locations to this laser beam for 30 seconds (CW) or for a number of pulses (pulse repetition frequency specified). After exposure, the optic is examined by a microscope (~100X magnification) for any visible damage. The number of locations that are damaged at a particular power/energy level is recorded. Next, the power/energy is either increased or decreased and the optic is exposed at 10 new locations. This process is repeated until damage is observed. The damage threshold is then assigned to be the highest power/energy that the optic can withstand without causing damage. A histogram such as that below represents the testing of one BB1-E02 mirror.

LIDT metallic mirror
The photograph above is a protected aluminum-coated mirror after LIDT testing. In this particular test, it handled 0.43 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns pulse, 10 Hz, Ø1.000 mm) before damage.
LIDT BB1-E02
Example Test Data
Fluence # of Tested Locations Locations with Damage Locations Without Damage
1.50 J/cm2 10 0 10
1.75 J/cm2 10 0 10
2.00 J/cm2 10 0 10
2.25 J/cm2 10 1 9
3.00 J/cm2 10 1 9
5.00 J/cm2 10 9 1

According to the test, the damage threshold of the mirror was 2.00 J/cm2 (532 nm, 10 ns pulse, 10 Hz, Ø0.803 mm). Please keep in mind that these tests are performed on clean optics, as dirt and contamination can significantly lower the damage threshold of a component. While the test results are only representative of one coating run, Thorlabs specifies damage threshold values that account for coating variances.

Continuous Wave and Long-Pulse Lasers

When an optic is damaged by a continuous wave (CW) laser, it is usually due to the melting of the surface as a result of absorbing the laser's energy or damage to the optical coating (antireflection) [1]. Pulsed lasers with pulse lengths longer than 1 µs can be treated as CW lasers for LIDT discussions.

When pulse lengths are between 1 ns and 1 µs, laser-induced damage can occur either because of absorption or a dielectric breakdown (therefore, a user must check both CW and pulsed LIDT). Absorption is either due to an intrinsic property of the optic or due to surface irregularities; thus LIDT values are only valid for optics meeting or exceeding the surface quality specifications given by a manufacturer. While many optics can handle high power CW lasers, cemented (e.g., achromatic doublets) or highly absorptive (e.g., ND filters) optics tend to have lower CW damage thresholds. These lower thresholds are due to absorption or scattering in the cement or metal coating.

Linear Power Density Scaling

LIDT in linear power density vs. pulse length and spot size. For long pulses to CW, linear power density becomes a constant with spot size. This graph was obtained from [1].

Intensity Distribution

Pulsed lasers with high pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) may behave similarly to CW beams. Unfortunately, this is highly dependent on factors such as absorption and thermal diffusivity, so there is no reliable method for determining when a high PRF laser will damage an optic due to thermal effects. For beams with a high PRF both the average and peak powers must be compared to the equivalent CW power. Additionally, for highly transparent materials, there is little to no drop in the LIDT with increasing PRF.

In order to use the specified CW damage threshold of an optic, it is necessary to know the following:

  1. Wavelength of your laser
  2. Beam diameter of your beam (1/e2)
  3. Approximate intensity profile of your beam (e.g., Gaussian)
  4. Linear power density of your beam (total power divided by 1/e2 beam diameter)

Thorlabs expresses LIDT for CW lasers as a linear power density measured in W/cm. In this regime, the LIDT given as a linear power density can be applied to any beam diameter; one does not need to compute an adjusted LIDT to adjust for changes in spot size, as demonstrated by the graph to the right. Average linear power density can be calculated using the equation below. 

The calculation above assumes a uniform beam intensity profile. You must now consider hotspots in the beam or other non-uniform intensity profiles and roughly calculate a maximum power density. For reference, a Gaussian beam typically has a maximum power density that is twice that of the uniform beam (see lower right).

Now compare the maximum power density to that which is specified as the LIDT for the optic. If the optic was tested at a wavelength other than your operating wavelength, the damage threshold must be scaled appropriately. A good rule of thumb is that the damage threshold has a linear relationship with wavelength such that as you move to shorter wavelengths, the damage threshold decreases (i.e., a LIDT of 10 W/cm at 1310 nm scales to 5 W/cm at 655 nm):

CW Wavelength Scaling

While this rule of thumb provides a general trend, it is not a quantitative analysis of LIDT vs wavelength. In CW applications, for instance, damage scales more strongly with absorption in the coating and substrate, which does not necessarily scale well with wavelength. While the above procedure provides a good rule of thumb for LIDT values, please contact Tech Support if your wavelength is different from the specified LIDT wavelength. If your power density is less than the adjusted LIDT of the optic, then the optic should work for your application. 

Please note that we have a buffer built in between the specified damage thresholds online and the tests which we have done, which accommodates variation between batches. Upon request, we can provide individual test information and a testing certificate. The damage analysis will be carried out on a similar optic (customer's optic will not be damaged). Testing may result in additional costs or lead times. Contact Tech Support for more information.

Pulsed Lasers

As previously stated, pulsed lasers typically induce a different type of damage to the optic than CW lasers. Pulsed lasers often do not heat the optic enough to damage it; instead, pulsed lasers produce strong electric fields capable of inducing dielectric breakdown in the material. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to compare the LIDT specification of an optic to your laser. There are multiple regimes in which a pulsed laser can damage an optic and this is based on the laser's pulse length. The highlighted columns in the table below outline the relevant pulse lengths for our specified LIDT values.

Pulses shorter than 10-9 s cannot be compared to our specified LIDT values with much reliability. In this ultra-short-pulse regime various mechanics, such as multiphoton-avalanche ionization, take over as the predominate damage mechanism [2]. In contrast, pulses between 10-7 s and 10-4 s may cause damage to an optic either because of dielectric breakdown or thermal effects. This means that both CW and pulsed damage thresholds must be compared to the laser beam to determine whether the optic is suitable for your application.

Pulse Duration t < 10-9 s 10-9 < t < 10-7 s 10-7 < t < 10-4 s t > 10-4 s
Damage Mechanism Avalanche Ionization Dielectric Breakdown Dielectric Breakdown or Thermal Thermal
Relevant Damage Specification No Comparison (See Above) Pulsed Pulsed and CW CW

When comparing an LIDT specified for a pulsed laser to your laser, it is essential to know the following:

Energy Density Scaling

LIDT in energy density vs. pulse length and spot size. For short pulses, energy density becomes a constant with spot size. This graph was obtained from [1].

  1. Wavelength of your laser
  2. Energy density of your beam (total energy divided by 1/e2 area)
  3. Pulse length of your laser
  4. Pulse repetition frequency (prf) of your laser
  5. Beam diameter of your laser (1/e2 )
  6. Approximate intensity profile of your beam (e.g., Gaussian)

The energy density of your beam should be calculated in terms of J/cm2. The graph to the right shows why expressing the LIDT as an energy density provides the best metric for short pulse sources. In this regime, the LIDT given as an energy density can be applied to any beam diameter; one does not need to compute an adjusted LIDT to adjust for changes in spot size. This calculation assumes a uniform beam intensity profile. You must now adjust this energy density to account for hotspots or other nonuniform intensity profiles and roughly calculate a maximum energy density. For reference a Gaussian beam typically has a maximum energy density that is twice that of the 1/e2 beam.

Now compare the maximum energy density to that which is specified as the LIDT for the optic. If the optic was tested at a wavelength other than your operating wavelength, the damage threshold must be scaled appropriately [3]. A good rule of thumb is that the damage threshold has an inverse square root relationship with wavelength such that as you move to shorter wavelengths, the damage threshold decreases (i.e., a LIDT of 1 J/cm2 at 1064 nm scales to 0.7 J/cm2 at 532 nm):

Pulse Wavelength Scaling

You now have a wavelength-adjusted energy density, which you will use in the following step.

Beam diameter is also important to know when comparing damage thresholds. While the LIDT, when expressed in units of J/cm², scales independently of spot size; large beam sizes are more likely to illuminate a larger number of defects which can lead to greater variances in the LIDT [4]. For data presented here, a <1 mm beam size was used to measure the LIDT. For beams sizes greater than 5 mm, the LIDT (J/cm2) will not scale independently of beam diameter due to the larger size beam exposing more defects.

The pulse length must now be compensated for. The longer the pulse duration, the more energy the optic can handle. For pulse widths between 1 - 100 ns, an approximation is as follows:

Pulse Length Scaling

Use this formula to calculate the Adjusted LIDT for an optic based on your pulse length. If your maximum energy density is less than this adjusted LIDT maximum energy density, then the optic should be suitable for your application. Keep in mind that this calculation is only used for pulses between 10-9 s and 10-7 s. For pulses between 10-7 s and 10-4 s, the CW LIDT must also be checked before deeming the optic appropriate for your application.

Please note that we have a buffer built in between the specified damage thresholds online and the tests which we have done, which accommodates variation between batches. Upon request, we can provide individual test information and a testing certificate. Contact Tech Support for more information.


[1] R. M. Wood, Optics and Laser Tech. 29, 517 (1998).
[2] Roger M. Wood, Laser-Induced Damage of Optical Materials (Institute of Physics Publishing, Philadelphia, PA, 2003).
[3] C. W. Carr et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 127402 (2003).
[4] N. Bloembergen, Appl. Opt. 12, 661 (1973).

In order to illustrate the process of determining whether a given laser system will damage an optic, a number of example calculations of laser induced damage threshold are given below. For assistance with performing similar calculations, we provide a spreadsheet calculator that can be downloaded by clicking the button to the right. To use the calculator, enter the specified LIDT value of the optic under consideration and the relevant parameters of your laser system in the green boxes. The spreadsheet will then calculate a linear power density for CW and pulsed systems, as well as an energy density value for pulsed systems. These values are used to calculate adjusted, scaled LIDT values for the optics based on accepted scaling laws. This calculator assumes a Gaussian beam profile, so a correction factor must be introduced for other beam shapes (uniform, etc.). The LIDT scaling laws are determined from empirical relationships; their accuracy is not guaranteed. Remember that absorption by optics or coatings can significantly reduce LIDT in some spectral regions. These LIDT values are not valid for ultrashort pulses less than one nanosecond in duration.

Intensity Distribution
A Gaussian beam profile has about twice the maximum intensity of a uniform beam profile.

CW Laser Example
Suppose that a CW laser system at 1319 nm produces a 0.5 W Gaussian beam that has a 1/e2 diameter of 10 mm. A naive calculation of the average linear power density of this beam would yield a value of 0.5 W/cm, given by the total power divided by the beam diameter:

CW Wavelength Scaling

However, the maximum power density of a Gaussian beam is about twice the maximum power density of a uniform beam, as shown in the graph to the right. Therefore, a more accurate determination of the maximum linear power density of the system is 1 W/cm.

An AC127-030-C achromatic doublet lens has a specified CW LIDT of 350 W/cm, as tested at 1550 nm. CW damage threshold values typically scale directly with the wavelength of the laser source, so this yields an adjusted LIDT value:

CW Wavelength Scaling

The adjusted LIDT value of 350 W/cm x (1319 nm / 1550 nm) = 298 W/cm is significantly higher than the calculated maximum linear power density of the laser system, so it would be safe to use this doublet lens for this application.

Pulsed Nanosecond Laser Example: Scaling for Different Pulse Durations
Suppose that a pulsed Nd:YAG laser system is frequency tripled to produce a 10 Hz output, consisting of 2 ns output pulses at 355 nm, each with 1 J of energy, in a Gaussian beam with a 1.9 cm beam diameter (1/e2). The average energy density of each pulse is found by dividing the pulse energy by the beam area:

Pulse Energy Density

As described above, the maximum energy density of a Gaussian beam is about twice the average energy density. So, the maximum energy density of this beam is ~0.7 J/cm2.

The energy density of the beam can be compared to the LIDT values of 1 J/cm2 and 3.5 J/cm2 for a BB1-E01 broadband dielectric mirror and an NB1-K08 Nd:YAG laser line mirror, respectively. Both of these LIDT values, while measured at 355 nm, were determined with a 10 ns pulsed laser at 10 Hz. Therefore, an adjustment must be applied for the shorter pulse duration of the system under consideration. As described on the previous tab, LIDT values in the nanosecond pulse regime scale with the square root of the laser pulse duration:

Pulse Length Scaling

This adjustment factor results in LIDT values of 0.45 J/cm2 for the BB1-E01 broadband mirror and 1.6 J/cm2 for the Nd:YAG laser line mirror, which are to be compared with the 0.7 J/cm2 maximum energy density of the beam. While the broadband mirror would likely be damaged by the laser, the more specialized laser line mirror is appropriate for use with this system.

Pulsed Nanosecond Laser Example: Scaling for Different Wavelengths
Suppose that a pulsed laser system emits 10 ns pulses at 2.5 Hz, each with 100 mJ of energy at 1064 nm in a 16 mm diameter beam (1/e2) that must be attenuated with a neutral density filter. For a Gaussian output, these specifications result in a maximum energy density of 0.1 J/cm2. The damage threshold of an NDUV10A Ø25 mm, OD 1.0, reflective neutral density filter is 0.05 J/cm2 for 10 ns pulses at 355 nm, while the damage threshold of the similar NE10A absorptive filter is 10 J/cm2 for 10 ns pulses at 532 nm. As described on the previous tab, the LIDT value of an optic scales with the square root of the wavelength in the nanosecond pulse regime:

Pulse Wavelength Scaling

This scaling gives adjusted LIDT values of 0.08 J/cm2 for the reflective filter and 14 J/cm2 for the absorptive filter. In this case, the absorptive filter is the best choice in order to avoid optical damage.

Pulsed Microsecond Laser Example
Consider a laser system that produces 1 µs pulses, each containing 150 µJ of energy at a repetition rate of 50 kHz, resulting in a relatively high duty cycle of 5%. This system falls somewhere between the regimes of CW and pulsed laser induced damage, and could potentially damage an optic by mechanisms associated with either regime. As a result, both CW and pulsed LIDT values must be compared to the properties of the laser system to ensure safe operation.

If this relatively long-pulse laser emits a Gaussian 12.7 mm diameter beam (1/e2) at 980 nm, then the resulting output has a linear power density of 5.9 W/cm and an energy density of 1.2 x 10-4 J/cm2 per pulse. This can be compared to the LIDT values for a WPQ10E-980 polymer zero-order quarter-wave plate, which are 5 W/cm for CW radiation at 810 nm and 5 J/cm2 for a 10 ns pulse at 810 nm. As before, the CW LIDT of the optic scales linearly with the laser wavelength, resulting in an adjusted CW value of 6 W/cm at 980 nm. On the other hand, the pulsed LIDT scales with the square root of the laser wavelength and the square root of the pulse duration, resulting in an adjusted value of 55 J/cm2 for a 1 µs pulse at 980 nm. The pulsed LIDT of the optic is significantly greater than the energy density of the laser pulse, so individual pulses will not damage the wave plate. However, the large average linear power density of the laser system may cause thermal damage to the optic, much like a high-power CW beam.

Thorlabs offers a variety of mounting solutions for our beamsplitter cubes. The mounts below allow our cubes to be post-mounted or integrated into our 16 mm or 30 mm cage systems. Post-mountable solutions are compatible with our Ø1/2" Posts as well as Ø1" Posts with 8-32 (M4) taps.

Post-Mountable Mounts for Beamsplitter Cubes
Click Photo to Enlarge
(Cubes Not Included)
Item # PCM(/M) BSH10(/M)
BSH05(/M)
BSH20(/M)
BSH1(/M)
BSH2(/M)
FBTB(/M) KM100PM(/M) KM200PM(/M) KM100B(/M) KM200B(/M) K6XS
Required Accessories Base: PCMP(/M) - - Clamp:
PM3(/M) or PM4(/M)
Clamp:
PM3(/M) or PM4(/M)
Clamp:
PM3(/M) or PM4(/M)
Clamp:
PM3(/M) or PM4(/M)
Adapter:
K6A1(/M)
Mounting Options Ø1/2" Posts Ø1/2" Postsa,b Ø1/2" Posts Ø1/2" Posts Ø1/2" Posts Ø1/2" Posts Ø1/2" Posts Ø1/2" Posts
Features Compact Compact Glue-In Mount with Precision Tip, Tilt, and Rotation Tip and Rotation Tip and Rotation Kinematic Mount Kinematic Mount 6-Axis Mount
Compatible
Beamsplitter
Cube Size(s)
Up to 20 mm 10 mm, 1/2",
20 mm, 1", 2"
5 mm Up to 20 mmc
Up to 1" d
Up to 20 mmc
Up to 1" d
Up to 2" e
Up to 20 mmc
Up to 1" d
Up to 20 mmc
Up to 1" d
Up to 2" e
5 mm
10 mm
1/2"
  • The BSH10(/M) requires a AP8E4E thread adapter to mount to a Ø1/2" Post.
  • The BSH1(/M) and BSH2(/M) can be mounted directly to an optical table using their two 1/4" (M6) counterbores.
  • With PM3(/M) Clamp
  • With PM4(/M) Clamp
  • With PM4(/M) and PM4SP(/M) Extension Post
Cage System Mounts for Beamsplitter Cubes
Click Photo to Enlarge
(Cubes Not Included)
Item # Cage Cube:
SC6W
ARV1 CRM1(/M) or CRM1P(/M) Cage Cube: C4W or C6W a CCM1-4ER(/M) CCM1-A4ER(/M) CCM1-B4ER(/M) CCM1-C4ER(/M)
Required Accessories Clamp: SB6C,
Platform: SPM2
- Adapter:
K6A1(/M)
Clamp: B6C,
Platform:
B3C(/M) or B4C(/M)
Clamp: B6C,
Platform:
B3CR(/M) or B4CRP(/M)
- - - -
Mounting
Options
16 mm Cage Systems 30 mm Cage Systems 30 mm Cage Systems or Ø1/2" Posts 30 mm Cage Systems 30 mm Cage Systems or Ø1/2" Posts
Features Compact Compact Rotation Mount Fixed or Kinematic Platforms Rotation Platforms - One Rotation Mount Two Rotation Mounts @ 180° Two Rotation Mounts @ 90°
Compatible
Beamsplitter
Cube Size(s)
10 mm 5 mm
10 mm
5 mm
10 mm
1/2"
1/2"
20 mm
1"
5 mm (with BS5CAM Adapter)
10 mm (with BS10CAM Adapter)
1/2" (with BS127CAM Adapter)
20 mm (with BS20CAM Adapter)
1" (Directly Compatible)
  • These photos illustrate two possible combinations. Any combination of cage cube, clamp, and platform is possible.

Thorlabs offers a wide selection of optics optimized for use with Nd:YAG lasers. Please see below for more information.


Nd:YAG Optics Selection
Dielectric Mirrors Ultrafast Mirrors
Laser Line Mirrors, 1064 nm, 532 nm, 355 nm, 266 nm Right-Angle Prism Mirrors, Nd:YAG Laser Lines Cage Cube-Mounted Turning Prism Mirrors Nd:Yag Ultrafast Mirrors
Laser Line Mirrors,
1064 nm, 532 nm, 355 nm, 266 nm
Right-Angle Prism Mirrors,
1064 nm, 532 nm
Cage Cube-Mounted Prism Mirrors,
1064 nm, 532 nm
Low GDD Ultrafast Mirrors,
1064 nm or 532 nm
Beamsplitters Wave Plates
Harmonic Beamsplitters, 1064 nm, 532 nm, 355 nm, 266 nm High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes, 1064 nm, 532 nm
Harmonic Beamsplitters,
1064 nm, 532 nm, 355 nm, 266 nm
High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes,
1064 nm, 532 nm: Unmounted or Mounted
Non-Polarizing Plate Beamsplitters,
1064 nm, 532 nm
Dual Wavelength Multi-Order Wave Plates,
1064 nm / 532 nm
Attenuators Filters Objectives Doublet Lenses
Laser Line Filters, 532 nm High Power Focusing Objectives, 1064 nm, 532 nm Air-Spaced Doublets, 1064 nm, 532 nm
Laser Beam Attenuator,
1064 nm / 532 nm
Hard-Coated Bandpass Filters,
1064 nm or 532 nm
High Power Focusing Objectives,
1064 nm, 532 nm
Air-Spaced Doublets,
1064 nm, 532 nm
Spherical Singlet Lenses
UVFS Plano-Convex Lenses, 1064 nm, 532 nm
N-BK7 Plano-Convex Lenses, Unmounted: 1064 nm / 532 nm UVFS Plano-Convex Lenses:
1064 nm: Unmounted
532 nm: Unmounted
1064 nm / 532 nm: Unmounted or Mounted
UVFS Bi-Convex Lenses, Unmounted:
1064 nm532 nm, or 1064 nm / 532 nm
UVFS Plano-Concave Lenses, Unmounted:
1064 nm532 nm, or 1064 nm / 532 nm

Beamsplitter Selection Guide

Thorlabs' portfolio contains many different kinds of beamsplitters, which can split beams by intensity or by polarization. We offer plate and cube beamsplitters, though other form factors exist, including pellicle and birefringent crystal. For an overview of the different types and a comparison of their features and applications, please see our overview. Many of our beamsplitters come in premounted or unmounted variants. Below is a complete listing of our beamsplitter offerings. To explore the available types, wavelength ranges, splitting/extinction ratios, transmission, and available sizes for each beamsplitter category, click More [+] in the appropriate row below.

Plate Beamsplitters

Non-Polarizing Plate Beamsplitters
Polarizing Plate Beamsplitters
  • 45° AOI Unless Otherwise Noted
  • 30 arcmin Wedge on Round Optics Only
  • Designed for use with P-polarized light.

Cube Beamsplitters

Non-Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters
Polarizing Cube and Polyhedron Beamsplitters

Pellicle Beamsplitters

Non-Polarizing Pellicle Beamsplitters

Crystal Beamsplitters

Polarizing Crystal Beamsplitters
  • Mounted in a protective box, unthreaded ring, or cylinder.
  • Available unmounted or mounted in a protective box or unthreaded cylinder.

Other

Other Beamsplitters

Polarizer Selection Guide

Thorlabs offers a diverse range of polarizers, including wire grid, film, calcite, alpha-BBO, rutile, and beamsplitting polarizers. Collectively, our line of wire grid polarizers offers coverage from the visible range to the beginning of the Far-IR range. Our nanoparticle linear film polarizers provide extinction ratios as high as 100 000:1. Alternatively, our other film polarizers offer an affordable solution for polarizing light from the visible to the Near-IR. Next, our beamsplitting polarizers allow for use of the reflected beam, as well as the more completely polarized transmitted beam. Finally, our alpha-BBO (UV), calcite (visible to Near-IR), rutile (Near-IR to Mid-IR), and yttrium orthovanadate (YVO4) (Near-IR to Mid-IR) polarizers each offer an exceptional extinction ratio of 100 000:1 within their respective wavelength ranges.

To explore the available types, wavelength ranges, extinction ratios, transmission, and available sizes for each polarizer category, click More [+] in the appropriate row below.

Wire Grid Polarizers
Film Polarizers
Beamsplitting Polarizers
alpha-BBO Polarizers
Calcite Polarizers
Quartz Polarizers
Magnesium Fluoride Polarizers
Yttrium Orthovanadate (YVO4) Polarizers
Rutile Polarizers
  • Click on the graph icons in this column to view a transmission curve for the corresponding polarizer. Each curve represents one substrate sample or coating run and is not guaranteed.
  • Mounted in a protective box, unthreaded ring, or cylinder.
  • Available unmounted or in an SM05-threaded (0.535"-40) mount that indicates the polarization axis.
  • Available unmounted or in an SM1-threaded (1.035"-40) mount that indicates the polarization axis.
  • PBS519: Average TP:TS > 1000:1
  • Available unmounted or mounted in cubes for cage system compatibility.
  • Calcite's transmittance of light near 350 nm is typically around 75% (see Transmission column).
  • Available unmounted or in an unthreaded Ø1/2" housing.
  • The transmission curves for calcite are valid for linearly polarized light with a polarization axis aligned with the mark on the polarizer's housing.
  • The 1064 nm V coating corresponds to a -C26 suffix in the item number.
  • Available unmounted or mounted in a protective box or unthreaded cylinder that indicates the polarization axis.

Posted Comments:
user  (posted 2020-05-22 17:36:03.86)
Dear Sir/Madam, I am looking for High-Power, Laser Line Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes for 257nm wavelength (pulses bandwidth 255-258nm). It means something like product code PBS25-257-HP. Is it possible to make such prisms? What will be the price and parameters? Best Regards, Pawel
YLohia  (posted 2020-05-26 09:35:28.0)
Hello Pawel, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Custom optics can be requested by emailing your local Thorlabs Tech Support group (in your case techsupport.se@thorlabs.com). We will reach out to you directly.
C.C. Kwong  (posted 2019-10-09 01:27:19.24)
Dear Sir, I am looking for a 0.5'' cube at 461 nm with both Tp and Rs > 97%. Could this be done and if so, could you please quote the price? Thank you.
nbayconich  (posted 2019-10-10 12:48:34.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I will reach out to you directly to discuss our custom capabilities.
laser42  (posted 2018-04-03 13:42:41.26)
Dear Sirs! The full-angle far-field 1/e^2 divergence of my laser is about 5 mrad. Will the cube PBS12-1064-HP work with such a beam? Best regards, Ivan.
YLohia  (posted 2018-04-03 04:37:08.0)
Hello Ivan, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. 5 mrad is a relatively small divergence and, thus, will not noticeably affect the performance of PBS12-1064-HP.
karasaki.hidehiko  (posted 2018-03-26 19:33:58.797)
Please teach me the reflectance of PBS-25-355-HP cube against P-pol incident beam. You disclosed the transmittance around 97% from real data. The reflectance is 1 or 2 % levell. Yes or Not?
nbayconich  (posted 2018-04-04 05:29:29.0)
Thank you for your feedback. For P polarized incident beams the transmittance will be greater than 95%. The reflected P polarization will be about 1-2% however we do not specify the reflectivity percentage of P polarization Rp only the expected reflected S polarization efficiency Rs which will be 99.5% or greater.
vojnadav  (posted 2018-03-26 12:39:47.36)
Dear Sir/Madam I would be interested in a PBS25 with 1030 nm AR coating. Would that be possible? Thank you. Regards David Vojna
YLohia  (posted 2018-03-27 01:06:41.0)
Hello David, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I will reach out to you directly to discuss the possibility of this.
gking  (posted 2017-11-27 08:56:38.25)
Would it be possible to manufacture a polarizing beam splitter for 915nm wave length and if so please quote. Also would it be possible to have an AR coatings centered at 1070nm on the standard 1064 nm BSC and again please quote. Quantities would be 2 of each. Regards Gary
nbayconich  (posted 2017-12-26 01:10:48.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. We can look into providing these customs for you. I will reach out to you directly with more information about our custom capabilities.
oscar.yeung  (posted 2017-03-15 10:35:07.19)
What is the laser damage threshold for a CW laser @ 640nm for your 640nm beamsplitter cube? The column is blank.
tfrisch  (posted 2017-03-22 04:08:25.0)
Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The reason we don't have damage testing on the 633nm version is that it was designed for use with a HeNe laser which is typically low power. I will reach out to you directly to discuss your source.
cbrideau  (posted 2015-08-12 14:26:00.583)
Given the increasing popularity of ytterbium amplified fiber systems, it would be nice to see a cube in this line for 1030-1040nm. Is it possible to tweak the design of the 1064 cube? How close is the 1064 cube to spec for 1030-1040nm as it is currently designed?
besembeson  (posted 2015-09-24 07:20:30.0)
Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: We tested one at 1030nm. While the design (barely) meets specification at 1030nm, with good extinction, transmission was low (~70%). If we wanted to offer a solution at 1030nm, we would probably need a new design.
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1/2" (12.7 mm) High-Power, Laser Line Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes

Item # PBS12-355-HP PBS12-405-HP PBS12-532-HP PBS12-633-HP PBS12-780-HP PBS12-1064-HP
Design Wavelength 355 nm 405 nm 532 nm 633 nm 780 - 808 nm 1064 nm
Beamsplitter Cube
Transmission (Click for Plot)

Raw Data

Raw Data

Raw Data

Raw Data

Raw Data

Raw Data
AR Coating Reflectance
(Click for Plot)
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 355 nm

Raw Data
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 405 nm

Raw Data
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 532 nm

Raw Data
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 633 nm

Raw Data
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 780 - 808 nm

Raw Data
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 1064 nm

Raw Data
Damage Thresholds 3 J/cm2 @ 355 nm
(10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.299 mm)
70 W/cm @ 405 nm
(CW, Ø30 µm)a
>10 J/cm2 @ 532 nm
(10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.43 mm);
350 W/cm @ 532 nm
(CW, Ø1 mm)a
- >10 J/cm2 @ 810 nm
(10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.062 mm)
>10 J/cm2 @ 1064 nm
(10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø1.00 mm);
3000 W/cm @ 1064 nm
(CW, Ø30 µm)a
  • The stated damage threshold is a certification measurement, as opposed to a true damage threshold (i.e., the optic was able to withstand the maximum output of the laser with no damage). The power density of your beam should be calculated in terms of W/cm. For an explanation of why the linear power density provides the best metric for long pulse and CW sources, please see the Damage Thresholds tab.
Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
PBS12-355-HP Support Documentation
PBS12-355-HPCustomer Inspired! 1/2" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 355 nm
$484.67
Today
PBS12-405-HP Support Documentation
PBS12-405-HP1/2" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 405 nm
$484.67
Today
PBS12-532-HP Support Documentation
PBS12-532-HP1/2" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 532 nm
$484.67
Today
PBS12-633-HP Support Documentation
PBS12-633-HPCustomer Inspired! 1/2" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 633 nm
$484.67
Today
PBS12-780-HP Support Documentation
PBS12-780-HP1/2" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 780 - 808 nm
$484.67
Today
PBS12-1064-HP Support Documentation
PBS12-1064-HP1/2" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 1064 nm
$484.67
Today
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1" (25.4 mm) High-Power, Laser Line Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes

Item # PBS25-355-HP PBS25-405-HP PBS25-532-HP PBS25-633-HP PBS25-780-HP PBS25-1064-HP
Design Wavelength 355 nm 405 nm 532 nm 633 nm 780 - 808 nm 1064 nm
Beamsplitter Cube
Transmission (Click for Plot)

Raw Data

Raw Data

Raw Data

Raw Data

Raw Data

Raw Data
AR Coating Reflectance
(Click for Plot)
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 355 nm

Raw Data
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 405 nm

Raw Data
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 532 nm

Raw Data
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 633 nm

Raw Data
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 780 - 808 nm

Raw Data
R < 0.25%
0° AOI @ 1064 nm

Raw Data
Damage Thresholds 3 J/cm2 @ 355 nm
(10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.299 mm)
70 W/cm @ 405 nm
(CW, Ø30 µm)a
>10 J/cm2 @ 532 nm
(10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.43 mm);
350 W/cm @ 532 nm
(CW, Ø1 mm)a
- >10 J/cm2 @ 810 nm
(10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.062 mm)
>10 J/cm2 @ 1064 nm
(10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø1.00 mm);
3000 W/cm @ 1064 nm
(CW, Ø30 µm)a
  • The stated damage threshold is a certification measurement, as opposed to a true damage threshold (i.e., the optic was able to withstand the maximum output of the laser with no damage). The power density of your beam should be calculated in terms of W/cm. For an explanation of why the linear power density provides the best metric for long pulse and CW sources, please see the Damage Thresholds tab.
Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
PBS25-355-HP Support Documentation
PBS25-355-HP1" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 355 nm
$605.84
Today
PBS25-405-HP Support Documentation
PBS25-405-HP1" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 405 nm
$605.84
Today
PBS25-532-HP Support Documentation
PBS25-532-HP1" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 532 nm
$605.84
Today
PBS25-633-HP Support Documentation
PBS25-633-HPCustomer Inspired! 1" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 633 nm
$605.84
Today
PBS25-780-HP Support Documentation
PBS25-780-HP1" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 780 - 808 nm
$605.84
Today
PBS25-1064-HP Support Documentation
PBS25-1064-HP1" High-Power Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube, 1064 nm
$605.84
Today