Dielectrically coated beam splitters separate a laser into two beams. The user can choose the amount of power split into each beam. Until recently, however, for an angle of incidence of 45° the user could only specify performance for one polarisation state. For traditional high power coatings the degree of reflection depends on the polarisation. If, for example, 50% of the p-polarised light is to be reflected, then a beam splitter Rp= 50% will be used. With s-polarised light, the same coating achieves a reflection of Rs= 82%.
Polarisation-independent beam splitter coating
Thanks to novel IAD (ion assisted deposition) coatings LASER COMPONENTS can offer designs engineered to reflect p-polarised and s-polarised light with identical performance. These beam splitters are also optimally suited for circularly polarised light. Other degrees of reflection are available upon request. These coatings are suitable for high power lasers and available for all common laser wavelengths.
