Economy Film Polarizers

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A variable polarizing attenuator made with two LPVISE2X2 polarizers. Care should be taken when mounting film polarizers, as considerable stress may change performance. 

Features

• Visible Dichroic Polarizer Extinction Ratios:
  • >100:1 for 400 - 500 nm
  • >1000:1 for 500 - 700 nm
  • >5000:1 for 530 - 690 nm
• NIR Diffuse Reflective Polarizers Extinction Ratios:
  • >400:1 for 600 - 1100 nm
  • >1000:1 for 600 - 940 nm
• Custom Sizes of up to 24" x 39" Available (Please Contact Tech Support)

Thorlabs' film polarizers are designed to linearly polarize low-power beams of light. Each film polarizer is a square that can be left whole or cut to custom sizes. The polarization axis is marked with an arrow and is aligned to the flat edge of the LPVISE2X2, while the polarization axis of the LPNIRE2X2 and LPNIRE11S is noted by a sticker. There is a protective film on both sides of each polarizer that must be removed prior to use.

The polarizing materials are designed and optimized for use within their operating range, denoted in the graphs below by the blue highlighted regions. Outside of this range, the performance of these polarizers' is not guaranteed. Care should be taken when cleaning and mounting these polarizers, as significant stress may cause performance variation. We recommend using compressed air to remove dust and debris.

These polarizers may slightly diffuse the transmitted beam and are not recommended for imaging applications or applications that require the input divergence to be preserved. Similarly, they may not maintain the collimation of large input beams. The beam will walk as the polarizer rotates, so it is recommended to use these polarizers only when a single fixed polarization direction is needed. Rotation assemblies, like the one shown to the right, should be used only to set a fixed output angle.

Larger sizes of up to 24" x 39" are also available. To order a custom-sized film polarizer, please contact Tech Support. We also offer film polarizers with AR-coated windows epoxied on each side in Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" sizes.

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.

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmissiona	Available Sizes
Wire Grid Polarizers on Glass Substrates	420 nm - 700 nm	>683:1 (Unmounted) >800:1 (Mounted)		12.5 mm x 12.5 mm, Ø25.0 mmb, 25.0 mm x 25.0 mm, and 50.0 mm x 50.0 mm
Wire Grid Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted or 30 mm Cage Cube)	400 nm - 700 nm	>1 000:1 (AOI: 0° - 5°) >100:1 (AOI: 0° - 25°)	P-Pol. S-Pol.	1"f
Holographic Wire Grid Polarizers	2 µm - 12 µm	150:1 at 3 µm 300:1 at 10 µm		Ø25.0 mmb and Ø50.0 mmb
	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 mmb, Ø25.0 mmb, 25.0 mm x 25.0 mmb, and 50.0 mm x 50.0 mmb
	7 µm - 15 µm	>10,000:1		12.5 mm x 12.5 mmb, Ø25.0 mmb, 25.0 mm x 25.0 mmb, and 50.0 mm x 50.0 mmb

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmissiona	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 mmc and Ø25.0 mmd
	480 nm - 550 nm	>10 000:1 from 480 nm - 550 nm		Ø12.5 mmc and Ø25.0 mmd
	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 mmc and Ø25.0 mmd
	550 nm - 1500 nm	>10 000:1 from 550 nm - 1500 nm >100 000:1 from 600 nm - 1200 nm		Ø12.5 mmc and Ø25.0 mmd
	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 mmc and Ø25.0 mmd
	1 µm - 3 µm	>1000:1 from 1 µm - 3 µm >10,000:1 from 1.2 µm - 3 µm		Ø12.5 mmc and Ø25.0 mmd
	1.1 µm - 1.8 µm	>1000:1 from 1.1 µm - 1.8 µm		Ø1/2"c and Ø1"d
	1.26 µm - 1.36 µm	>10 000:1 from 1.26 µm - 1.36 µm		Ø12.5 mmc and Ø25.0 mmd
	1.50 µm - 1.60 µm	>10 000:1 from 1.50 µm - 1.60 µm		Ø12.5 mmc and Ø25.0 mmd
	1.5 µm - 5 µm	>1000:1 from 1.5 µm - 5 µm >10 000:1 from 2 µm - 4.5 µm		Ø12.5 mmc and Ø25.0 mmd
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"
	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	Transmissiona	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
Broadband Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted, 16 mm Cage Cube, or 30 mm Cage Cube)	420 nm - 680 nm	1000:1e		5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mmf, 1"f, and 2"
	620 nm - 1000 nm
	700 nm - 1300 nm
	900 nm - 1300 nm
	1200 nm - 1600 nm
Wire Grid Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted or 30 mm Cage Cube)	400 nm - 700 nm	>1 000:1 (AOI: 0° - 5°) >100:1 (AOI: 0° - 25°)	P-Pol. S-Pol.	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
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
High-Power, Broadband, High Extinction Ratio Polarizers	700 nm - 1100 nm	> 1000:1 (700 - 1100 nm) > 5000:1 (750 - 1000 nm)  > 10 000:1 (800 - 900 nm)		12.7 mm (Input/Output Face, Square)
	900 nm - 1300 nm	>1000:1 (900 - 1300 nm) >10 000:1 (900 - 1250 nm) >100 000:1 (980 - 1080 nm)		10 mm and 5 mm (Input/Output Face, Square)
Calcite Beam Displacers	350 nmg - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)	-		10 mmb (Clear Aperture, Square)
Yttrium Orthovanadate (YVO4) Beam Displacers	488 nm - 3.4 µm (Uncoated)	-		>3 mm x 5 mm Ellipseh (Clear Aperture)
	2000 nm (V Coated)

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

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmissiona,h	Available Sizes
Glan-Laser Calcite Polarizers	350 nmg - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)	100 000:1		5 mmb, 10 mmj, and 15 mmb (Clear Aperture, Square)
	350 nmg - 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 nmg - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			5 mmb, 10 mmb, and 15 mmb (Clear Aperture, Square)
	350 nmg - 700 nm (A Coated)
	650 nm - 1050 nm (B Coated)
	1050 nm - 1700 nm (C Coated)
Glan-Thompson Calcite Polarizers (Unmounted or Mounted)	350 nmg - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			5 mmk and 10 mmk (Clear Aperture, Square)
	350 nmg - 700 nm (A Coated)
	650 nm - 1050 nm (B Coated)
Double Glan-Taylor Calcite Polarizers	350 nmg - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			9 mmb (Clear Aperture, Square)
Beam Displacers	350 nmg - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			10 mmb (Clear Aperture, Square)
Wollaston Prism Polarizers	350 nmg - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			Ø10 mmk (Clear Aperture)
	350 nmg - 700 nm (A Coated)
	650 nm - 1050 nm (B Coated)

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmissiona	Available Sizes
Wollaston Prism Polarizers	400 nm - 2000 nm	10 000:1		Ø10 mmb (Clear Aperture)

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmissiona	Available Sizes
Wollaston Prism Polarizers	200 nm - 6.0 µm	10 000:1		Ø10 mmb (Clear Aperture)
Rochon Prism Polarizers				10 mm x 10 mm (Clear Aperture)

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmissiona	Available Sizes
Beam Displacers	488 nm - 3.4 µm (Uncoated) 2000 nm (V Coated)	100 000:1		>3 mm x 5 mm (Clear Aperture, Ellipse)
Wollaston Prism Polarizers	900 nm - 3.24 µm			Ø10 mmb (Clear Aperture)
Rochon Prism Polarizers	488 nm - 3.4 µm			10 mm x 10 mmb (Clear Aperture)

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmissiona	Available Sizes
Rutile TiO2 Polarizers	2.2 µm - 4 µm	100 000:1		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 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.