PE-PRISM-POLAR-039 · Standard + Custom

Polarizing Prisms

High-extinction polarizing prisms for laser and precision optics

Material
N-BK7 / UV Fused Silica
Wavelength
VIS / NIR (material dependent)
Type
Polarizing (Glan/Wollaston)
Category
Optical Prisms
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Polarizing Prisms

Key Specifications

TypeGlan-Thompson / Glan-Taylor / Glan-Laser / Wollaston
MaterialCalcite (CaCO₃) / α-BBO
Aperture3-20 mm
WavelengthVIS / NIR (material dependent)
Extinction Ratio> 10⁵ (Glan-Laser)
Transmission> 95% (pass axis)
Damage ThresholdHigh (air-spaced designs)
AR CoatingsAvailable

What Is a Polarizing Prisms?

Polarizing Prisms are precision optical components that deviate, rotate, invert, or disperse light beams through total internal reflection or refraction. They are essential building blocks in optical instruments, laser systems, and spectroscopy.

PhotonEdge offers standard and custom prism geometries in N-BK7, UV Fused Silica, and CaF₂ substrates.

When Should You Use This Product?

✔ Good Choice When

  • ✓ Laser polarization control and cleanup
  • ✓ High-extinction polarization experiments
  • ✓ Ellipsometry and polarimetry
  • ✓ Optical isolation and modulation

⚠ Consider an Alternative When

✗ 90° beam deviation → Right Angle Prism
✗ Spectral dispersion → Dispersing Prism
✗ Linear polarization (film) → Visible Linear Polarizer
✗ Waveplate retardance → Zero-Order Waveplate

Available Optical Materials

Select the optimal substrate material based on your wavelength, environment, and budget requirements.

MaterialTransmissionKey AdvantageConsiderations
N-BK7VIS / NIR (350-2000nm)General-purpose, low costNot for UV < 350nm
UV Fused SilicaUV / VIS / NIR (185-2100nm)UV-compatible, low absorptionHigher cost
CaF₂Deep UV / VIS / IR (130-7800nm)Broadest range, low dispersionFragile, higher cost

Not sure which material to choose?

Ask AI Optical Engineer

Optical Coating Options

Uncoated (AR optional)

Uncoated polarizing elements. Optional AR available.

Typical use: General polarization control

BBAR Visible

Broadband AR for 400-700nm. R < 0.5% per surface.

Typical use: Visible polarization applications

AR Custom Wavelength

Custom AR for specific wavelength bands.

Typical use: Laser or specialized applications

How to Specify Your Coating

To select the right coating, please provide: (1) Operating wavelength, (2) Angle of incidence, (3) Required transmission or reflectivity, (4) Laser power density (if applicable), (5) Operating environment.

Engineering Considerations

Key factors to evaluate when specifying this optical component for your system.

Surface Quality

60-40 for general alignment; 40-20 for laser systems; 20-10 for precision laser and imaging.

Wavefront Error

λ/4 is standard. For interferometric systems, request λ/10 or tighter.

AR Coatings

Reduce reflection losses at air-glass interfaces. Essential for multi-surface systems.

Material Selection

BK7 for visible; Fused Silica for UV; CaF₂ for broadband UV-IR or dispersion-critical applications.

Have a Custom Optical Requirement?

Upload your drawing or describe your specification. Our engineering team will review and respond within 24 hours with a detailed quotation.

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Applications

Spectroscopy

Beam conditioning, wavelength selection, and signal extraction in spectrometers.

Laser Systems

Laser line filtering, beam shaping, and optical filtering.

Fluorescence & Bioimaging

Excitation and emission filtering for fluorescence microscopy.

Research & Education

Optical measurement setups and spectroscopic analysis.

Manufacturing & Customization

PhotonEdge supports optical component sourcing, engineering review, and qualified manufacturing through our optical manufacturing network. We coordinate production, coating, and inspection to deliver components that meet your specifications.

🔬
Prototype
⚙️
Low Volume
🏭
Volume Production
📋
Custom Specification

Quality Assurance

Dimensional Inspection

Diameter, thickness, focal length verified per specification

Surface Quality

Scratch-dig inspection under calibrated illumination

Coating Verification

Spectrophotometric measurement of transmission/reflectance

Inspection documentation available according to project requirements. Certificates of Conformance, material test reports, and coating curves can be provided.

You May Also Need

Right Angle Prisms

90° deviation prisms

Penta Prisms

Constant 90° deviation

Dispersing Prisms

Spectral dispersion

Polarizing Prisms

High-extinction polarization

Related Knowledge

Optical Prisms: Selection and Application Guide

Read article →

Understanding Optical Coatings

Read article →

Laser Optics: Component Selection Guide

Read article →

Spectroscopy Optics Selection Guide

Read article →

Engineering Documentation

The following documentation is available upon request for qualified engineering projects:

📐
Dimensional Drawing

CAD & dimensional specs per your requirements

📊
Material Data Sheet

Material properties, transmission curves & certificates

📈
Coating Performance Curve

Spectrophotometric measurement data

🔍
Inspection Report

Surface quality, flatness, centration & dimensional data

✅
Certificate of Conformance

CoC with full traceability per project requirements

📋
Custom Specification Sheet

Application-specific specification documentation

Documentation availability depends on project scope and order quantity. Request details during RFQ.

Further Reading: Engineering Guides

Deepen your understanding with our engineering guides and application notes:

Laser Optics Components Guide Optical Materials Selection Handbook Beam Expander Design Considerations Browse All Knowledge Center Articles Browse All Application Notes

Ordering Information

Price Range
See Quote
Standard Lead Time
Ships within 1 week after payment
Custom Lead Time
Subject to engineering evaluation
MOQ
1 Piece
Samples
Available

Contact us for exact pricing based on your specifications.

Specification Parameters

Typical Specifications shown on this page are standard capabilities. Available Options include alternative materials and coatings. Custom Specifications are available per your drawing. Requirements beyond standard capability are marked Subject to Engineering Review.

Get a Quote Full Ordering Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials are available?

Standard materials include N-BK7 for visible applications, UV Fused Silica for UV, and CaF₂ for broadband UV-IR.

What are the standard sizes?

Common specifications are typically available from stock. Custom dimensions are available upon request.

What surface quality do you offer?

60-40 for standard applications, 40-20 for precision, and 20-10 for laser-grade optics.

Can prisms be used with lasers?

Yes. For laser applications, specify laser-grade surface quality (20-10) and appropriate AR coatings for your wavelength.

How do I specify a prism?

Provide: type, material, dimensions, wavelength, surface quality, and coating requirements.

What is the lead time?

Standard prisms ship within 1-2 weeks, depending on quantity and specifications. Custom prisms require 3-4 weeks, subject to change based on order specifics.

Not Sure Which Specification You Need?

Describe your optical system and our AI Optical Engineer will help identify the right specifications, materials, and coatings for your application.

Analyze My Requirement

Request a Quote

Provide your requirements and our engineering team will respond within 24 hours with a detailed quotation.

TypeMaterialApertureWavelengthExtinction RatioTransmissionDamage ThresholdAR Coatings
Submit Engineering Request

Have a Custom Requirement?

Upload your drawing or specifications. Our engineering team will review and respond within 24 business hours.

Upload Your Drawing Request a Quote

Related Optical Materials

Learn more about the optical materials available for this product

🔵BK7 🟣UV Fused Silica
View All Materials →