Yttrium Orthovanadate (YVO₄) Beam Displacers

Separate an Input into Two Orthogonally Polarized Beams
Yttrium Orthovanadate Substrate is Transparent from 488 nm to 3.4 µm
Option for 2000 nm V-Coated Beam Displacers, R < 0.25%
Mounted and Unmounted Optics

BDY12

Mounted Beam Displacer

BDY12U

Unmounted Beam Displacer

Application Idea

A BDY12-2000 Mounted Beam Displacer Attached to a Rotation Mount Using a Ø1/2" Lens Tube

BDY12-2000

Mounted Beam Displacer

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Overview
Graphs
Feedback
Polarizer Guide

Item #	BDY12(U)	BDY12(U)-2000
Substrate Material^a	Yttrium Orthovanadate (YVO₄)
Substrate Spectral Range (Click for Graph)	488 nm - 3.4 µm
AR Coating (Click for Graph)	N/A	2000 nm V Coating
AR Coating Reflectance (0° AOI)	N/A	R < 0.25% at 2000 nm
Beam Separation (@ 2000 nm)	1.2 mm
Clear Aperture	>3 mm x 5 mm Ellipse
Beam Deviation	<30 arcsec Between Output Beams
Surface Flatness	λ/10 at 633 nm
Surface Quality	40-20 Scratch-Dig

Click Link for Detailed Specifications on the Substrate

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Birefringent Beam Displacers Seperate Unpolarized Light into Two Orthogonally Polarized Beams

Birefringent Crystal Beamsplitters
Type	Ordinary Ray Angle^a	Extraordinary Ray Angle^a
Calcite Beam Displacers	Parallel	Parallel
YVO₄ Beam Displacers	Parallel	Parallel
Rochon Prisms	Parallel	Deviated
Wollaston Prisms	Deviated	Deviated

With Respect to Input Beam

Features

Two Orthogonally Polarized Output Beams
1.2 mm Beam Displacement at 2000 nm
Available Uncoated or V-Coated at 2000 nm
Outputs Beams Parallel within 30 arcsec
Transparent from 488 nm to 3.4 μm
Available Unmounted or Mounted in a Ø1/2" Housing

Beam displacing prisms are used to separate an input beam into two orthogonally polarized output beams and can be used as polarizing beamsplitters in applications where the 90° separation generated by polarizing beamsplitter cubes is not desired. Fabricated from yttrium orthovanadate (YVO₄), these beam displacers provide a beam separation of 1.2 mm at a wavelength of 2000 nm and can be used with wavelengths from 488 nm to 3.4 μm (see Graphs tab). This beam separation sets an upper limit to the beam size that is appropriate for use with these polarizers. Our D-shaped mirrors are ideal for picking off one of the two polarized beams.

These YVO₄ beam displacers are available uncoated or with a V coating that provides <0.25% reflectance at 2000 nm (see the Graphs tab). The BDY12 and BDY12-2000 beam displacers are mounted in Ø1/2" anodized aluminum housings for compatibility with our Ø1/2" lens tubes and Ø1/2" rotation mounts, while the BDY12U and BDY12U-2000 beam displacers are unmounted 12.0 mm x 6.0 mm x 4.0 mm (0.47" x 0.24" x 0.16") optics. All of these beam displacers produce output beams that are parallel to each other to within 30 arcsec.

In addition to these beam displacers, Thorlabs also offers a complete line of polarizers made from a variety of materials, including α-BBO, calcite, quartz, and rutile. We also produce a wide range of other polarization optics and polarization instrumentation.

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Click Here for Raw Data
Transmission Through Uncoated YVO₄

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Reflectance for the BDY12-2000 and BDYU12-2000 Beam Displacers

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The linear separation between the orthogonally polarized output beams varies with wavelength.

Posted Comments:

nachmen gelbach (posted 2021-05-24 20:22:17.057)

Hi! I wanted to ask, what is the damage threshold of the BDY12-2000?

YLohia (posted 2021-05-24 01:46:19.0)

Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Please see the comment regarding the damage threshold of BDY12-2000 below.

dodd (posted 2018-08-23 17:18:42.357)

Does the BDY12-2000 have a known damage threshold? I would like to use it as a polarizing beamsplitter for a 5W CW tunable laser operating in the 2-2.5um wavelength range. Any advice you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

YLohia (posted 2018-08-27 08:35:48.0)

Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Unfortunately, we do not have a specified damage threshold for the BDY12-2000. That being said, preliminary tests indicate that a CW 5W laser beam with a beam diameter greater than 0.5mm should be fine for the 2-2.4um range. Additionally, >15 J/cm2 @ 20ns, 20Hz @ 1064nm is also expected to be fine in a pulsed application.

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 T_P:T_S > 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.

Unmounted Beam Displacers

Zoom

Schematic of the BDY12U Unmounted YVO₄ Beam Displacer

Unmounted YVO₄ Beam Displacers
Produces Two Orthogonally Polarized Output Beams
Available Uncoated or V-Coated at 2000 nm

These Unmounted Beam Splitters are compact [0.47" x 0.24" x 0.16" (12.0 mm x 6.0 mm x 4.0 mm)], making them ideal for use in OEM applications. They split an input beam into two output beams with orthogonal polarization. The uncoated beam splitter provides excellent transmission from 488 nm to 3.4 µm, while the 2000 nm V-coat minimizes the reflectance at 2000 nm. The line on the beam splitter indicates the optic axis. They can be mounted in a kinematic platform mount or a tip, tilt, and rotation stage.

Mounted Beam Displacers

Zoom

Schematic of the BDY12 Mounted YVO₄ Beam Displacer

YVO₄ Beam Displacers Mounted in a Ø1/2" Housing
Produces Two Orthogonally Polarized Output Beams
Available Uncoated or V-Coated at 2000 nm
Compatible with SM05 Lens Tube Systems

These Mounted Beam Splitters are seated in Ø1/2" anodized aluminum housings. This housing fits inside our Ø1/2" lens tubes, making them compatible with our Ø1/2" rotation mounts. These beam splitters split an input beam into two output beams with orthogonal polarization. The uncoated beam splitter provides excellent transmission from 488 nm to 3.4 µm, while the
2000 nm V-coat minimizes the reflectance at 2000 nm.

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmission^a	Available Sizes
Wire Grid Polarizers on Glass Substrates	420 nm - 700 nm	>800:1 (Avg. Over Wavelength Range)		12.5 mm x 12.5 mm, Ø25.0 mm^b, 25.0 mm x 25.0 mm, and 50.0 mm x 50.0 mm
Wire Grid Polarizers on Glass Substrates	250 nm - 4 µm	>10:1 from 250 nm - 4 µm >100:1 from 300 nm - 4 µm >1000:1 from 600 nm - 4 µm >10 000:1 from 2.25 µm - 4 µm		12.5 mm x 12.5 mm, Ø25.0 mm^b, 25.0 mm x 25.0 mm, and 50.0 mm x 50.0 mm
Wire Grid Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted, 16 mm Cage Cube, or 30 mm Cage Cube)	400 nm - 700 nm	>1 000:1 (AOI: 0° - 5°) >100:1 (AOI: 0° - 25°)	P-Pol. S-Pol.	20 mm and 1"^f
Holographic Wire Grid Polarizers	2 µm - 12 µm	150:1 at 3 µm 300:1 at 10 µm		Ø25.0 mm^b and Ø50.0 mm^b
	2 µm - 9 µm	150:1 at 3 µm 300:1 at 8 µm
	2 µm - 30 µm	150:1 at 3 µm 300:1 at 15 µm
	2 µm - 18 µm	150:1 at 3 µm 300:1 at 10 µm
MIR Wire Grid Polarizers on Silicon Substrates	3 µm - 5 µm	>1000:1		12.5 mm x 12.5 mm^b, Ø25.0 mm^b, 25.0 mm x 25.0 mm^b, and 50.0 mm x 50.0 mm^b
MIR Wire Grid Polarizers on Silicon Substrates	7 µm - 15 µm	>10,000:1		12.5 mm x 12.5 mm^b, Ø25.0 mm^b, 25.0 mm x 25.0 mm^b, and 50.0 mm x 50.0 mm^b

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmission^a	Available Sizes
Nanoparticle Linear Film Polarizers	365 nm - 395 nm	>1000:1 from 365 nm - 395 nm >10 000:1 from 369 nm - 390 nm >100 000:1 from 372 nm - 388 nm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	480 nm - 550 nm	>10 000:1 from 480 nm - 550 nm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	510 nm - 800 nm	>1000:1 from 510 nm - 800 nm >10 000:1 from 520 - 740 nm >100 000:1 from 530 - 640 nm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	550 nm - 1500 nm	>10 000:1 from 550 nm - 1500 nm >100 000:1 from 600 nm - 1200 nm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	650 nm - 1100 nm	>200:1 from 650 nm - 695 nm >1000:1 from 695 nm - 1100 nm		Ø1/2"^c and Ø1"^d
	650 nm - 2000 nm	>1000:1 from 650 nm - 2000 nm >10 000:1 from 750 nm - 1800 nm >100 000:1 from 850 nm - 1600 nm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	1 µm - 3 µm	>1000:1 from 1 µm - 3 µm >10,000:1 from 1.2 µm - 3 µm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	1.1 µm - 1.8 µm	>1000:1 from 1.1 µm - 1.8 µm		Ø1/2"^c and Ø1"^d
	1.5 µm - 5 µm	>1000:1 from 1.5 µm - 5 µm >10 000:1 from 2 µm - 4.5 µm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
Economy Film Polarizers	400 nm - 700 nm	>100:1 from 400 nm - 500 nm >1000:1 from 500 nm - 700 nm >5000:1 from 530 nm - 690 nm		2" x 2"
Economy Film Polarizers	600 nm - 1100 nm	>400:1 from 600 nm - 1100 nm >1000:1 from 600 nm - 940 nm		2" x 2"
Economy Laminated Film Polarizers	400 nm - 700 nm	>100:1 from 400 nm - 500 nm >1000:1 from 500 nm - 700 nm >5000:1 from 530 nm - 690 nm		Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2"
	600 nm - 1100 nm	>1000:1 from 600 nm - 950 nm >400:1 from 600 nm - 1100 nm		Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2"
	1050 nm - 1700 nm	>1000:1 from 1050 - 1400 nm >2000:1 from 1400 - 1700 nm		Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2"

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmission^a	Available Sizes
Polarizing Plate Beamsplitters	405 nm	>10 000:1		Ø1" and 25 mm x 36 mm
	532 nm
	633 nm
	780 nm
	808 nm
	1030 nm
	1064 nm
	1310 nm
	1550 nm
Polarizing Bandpass Filters	355 nm +6 nm / -9 nm	1 000 000:1		25.2 mm x 35.6 mm
Broadband Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted, 16 mm Cage Cube, or 30 mm Cage Cube)	420 nm - 680 nm	1000:1^e		5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm^f, 1"^f, and 2"
	620 nm - 1000 nm
	900 nm - 1300 nm
	1200 nm - 1600 nm
Wire Grid Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted, 16 mm Cage Cube, or 30 mm Cage Cube)	400 nm - 700 nm	>1 000:1 (AOI: 0° - 5°) >100:1 (AOI: 0° - 25°)	P-Pol. S-Pol.	10 mm, 20 mm^f, and 1"^f
Laser-Line Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted or 30 mm Cage Cube)	532 nm	3000:1		10 mm, 1/2", 1"^f
	633 nm
	780 nm
	980 nm			1"^f
	1064 nm			10 mm, 1/2", 1"^f
	1550 nm			10 mm, 1/2", 1"^f
High-Power Laser-Line Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted or 30 mm Cage Cube)	355 nm	2000:1		1/2" and 1"^f
	405 nm
	532 nm
	633 nm
	780 - 808 nm
	1064 nm
Calcite Beam Displacers	350 nm^g - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)	-		10 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
Yttrium Orthovanadate (YVO₄) Beam Displacers	488 nm - 3.4 µm (Uncoated)	-		>3 mm x 5 mm Ellipse^h (Clear Aperture)
Yttrium Orthovanadate (YVO₄) Beam Displacers	2000 nm (V Coated)	-		>3 mm x 5 mm Ellipse^h (Clear Aperture)

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmission^a	Available Sizes
alpha-BBO Glan-Laser Polarizers	210 nm - 450 nm	100 000:1		5 mm^b and 10 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
	220 nm - 370 nm
	405 nm
Wollaston Prism Polarizers	190 nm - 3500 nm			Ø10 mm^b (Clear Aperture)

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmission^a,h	Available Sizes
Glan-Laser Calcite Polarizers	350 nm^g - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)	100 000:1		5 mm^b, 10 mm^j, and 15 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
	350 nm^g - 700 nm (A Coated)
	650 nm - 1050 nm (B Coated)
	1050 nm - 1700 nm (C Coated)
	1064 nm (V Coated)^j
Glan-Taylor Calcite Polarizers	350 nm^g - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			5 mm^b, 10 mm^b, and 15 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
	350 nm^g - 700 nm (A Coated)
	650 nm - 1050 nm (B Coated)
	1050 nm - 1700 nm (C Coated)
Glan-Thompson Calcite Polarizers (Unmounted or Mounted)	350 nm^g - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			5 mm^k and 10 mm^k (Clear Aperture, Square)
	350 nm^g - 700 nm (A Coated)
	650 nm - 1050 nm (B Coated)
Double Glan-Taylor Calcite Polarizers	350 nm^g - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			9 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
Beam Displacers	350 nm^g - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			10 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
Wollaston Prism Polarizers	350 nm^g - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			Ø10 mm^k (Clear Aperture)
	350 nm^g - 700 nm (A Coated)
	650 nm - 1050 nm (B Coated)