Transmission and Reflection of Light Through Wire Grid Polarizing Beamsplitter
Wire Grid Beamsplitter Diagram (Not to Scale)
Features
Transmits P-Polarized Light and Reflects S-Polarized Light
Unmounted 1" Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube
Large Field of View
High Extinction Ratio
Tp:Ts > 1 000:1 (AOI: 0° - 5°)
Tp:Ts > 100:1 (AOI: 0° - 25°)
Thorlabs' Wire Grid Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube consists of an array of parallel metallic wires sandwiched between two N-BK7 prisms. Wire grid polarizers transmit radiation with an electric field vector perpendicular to the wire and reflect radiation with the electric field vector parallel to the wire. This cube separates the s- and p-polarized components by reflecting the s-polarized component at the wire grid, while allowing the p-polarized component to pass. Due to surface reflections, the reflected beam contains both polarizations.
This type of beamsplitter cube has a larger Angle of Incidence (AOI) than traditional broadband polarizing beamsplitter cubes. For the highest polarization extinction ratio, use the transmitted beam, which offers an extinction ratio of Tp:Ts > 1 000:1 for an AOI from 0° to 5°. For higher AOI (5° to 25°), this cube can maintain an extinction ratio of Tp:Ts > 100:1.
The wire grid is sandwiched between the hypotenuses of the two prisms that make up the cube. Then, optical cement is used to bind the two prism halves together (refer to the diagram above). The engraved dot on the top of the cube indicates the prism with the wire grid polarizer. Light can be input into any of the polished faces to separate the s- and p-polarizations. One possible orientation is engraved on the top of the cube. Please refer to the BS Cube Mounting tab above for information on mounting options and compatibility.
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 polarizer by 90° for minimum transmission.
Through Entrance Faces
Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data The graph above shows the measured extinction ratio (ER) for transmitted light for light incident upon one of the entrance faces. The extinction ratio (also known as contrast) is the ratio of the maximum transmission of a sufficiently linearly polarized signal when the polarizer’s axis is aligned with the signal to the minimum transmission when the polarizer is rotated by 90°. The plotted data is given for AOIs of 0° and ±25°.
Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data The graph above shows the measured transmission through the wire grid polarizing cube for p-polarized light for light incident upon one of the entrance faces. The plotted data is given for AOIs of 0° and ±25°.
Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data The graph above shows the measured transmission through the wire grid polarizing cube for s-polarized light for light incident upon one of the entrance faces. The plotted data is given for AOIs of 0° and ±25°.
Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data The graph above shows the measured reflectance from the wire grid polarizing cube for p-polarized light for light incident upon one of the entrance faces. The plotted data is given for AOIs of 0° and ±25°.
Click to Enlarge Click for Raw Data The graph above shows the measured reflectance from the wire grid polarizing cube for s-polarized light for light incident upon one of the entrance faces. The plotted data is given for AOIs of 0° and ±25°.
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.
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' 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. 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, clickMore [+] in the appropriate row below.
Hi,
Could you please let me know what is the Reflected wavefront aberration for the Wire grid PBS reference: WPBS254-VIS.
YOu only discolse the transmitted wavefront aberration, but not the reflection one.
I would like to check if I can use the polarizer to reflect an image with 60lp/mm!
Regards
nbayconich
 (posted 2019-01-02 04:18:24.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The Reflected wavefront error will be typically higher than the transmitted wavefront error for these beamsplitters. I will reach out to you directly about your application.
user
 (posted 2014-10-16 10:39:55.653)
"For high power applications, we also offer high power polarizing beamsplitting cubes. " What power do you define HIGH POWER?
myanakas
 (posted 2014-10-20 11:22:53.0)
Response from Mike at Thorlabs: Thank you for your feedback. Our high-power polarizing beamsplitters, which can be found here http://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=6055&tabname=Damage Thresholds, have damage thresholds greater than 10 J/cm^2. For more information on the damage thresholds for our high-power polarizing beamsplitters, please click the link above.
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.
9.1 mm x 9.5 mm x 9.5 mmb and 10.7 mm x 15.9 mm x 15.9 mmb
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.