Noun
English Wikipedia has an article on:waveplateWikipedia
waveplate (plural waveplates)
(physics) A thin layer of a birefringent material that is used to introduce a controlled phase shift between the two polarization components of a light wave, thereby altering its polarization
A waveplate or retarder is an optical device that alters the polarization state of a light wave travelling through it. Source: Internet
The behavior of a waveplate (that is, whether it is a half-wave plate, a quarter-wave plate, etc.) depends on the thickness of the crystal, the wavelength of light, and the variation of the index of refraction. Source: Internet
For a single waveplate changing the wavelength of the light introduces a linear error in the phase. Source: Internet
If the axis of polarization of the incident wave is chosen so that it makes a 0° with the fast or slow axes of the waveplate, then the polarization will not change, so remains linear. Source: Internet
Principles of operation A waveplate works by shifting the phase between two perpendicular polarization components of the light wave. Source: Internet
The waveplate is characterized by the amount of relative phase, Γ, that it imparts on the two components, which is related to the birefringence Δn and the thickness L of the crystal by the formula : where λ 0 is the vacuum wavelength of the light. Source: Internet