Custom polarizing prisms

Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes, Coated and Cemented in Rye

Kingsview Optical makes custom polarizing beamsplitter cubes to your specification. We polish the prisms, design and deposit the polarizing coating for your wavelength in our own chambers, and cement the pair in our cleanroom, so the whole cube is made and checked at our site in Rye, East Sussex.

  • Made in Rye, East Sussex
  • Polarizing coatings designed in-house
  • Coated in-house
  • ISO 9001:2015
Send Your Prism Drawing See the Specification
Polarizing prism being cemented at Kingsview Optical in Rye, UK
A polarizing prism being cemented, in Rye.
Prisms made here, start to finish. Shaped, polished, coated, cemented and measured at our site in Rye.
See how we make them →
The basics

What a Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube Does

In short: a polarizing beamsplitter cube is two right angle prisms cemented together, with a multilayer polarizing coating on the hypotenuse between them. It transmits P-polarized light straight through and reflects S-polarized light at 90°, splitting an unpolarized beam into two polarized beams.

The polarizing coating is a stack of thin dielectric layers designed for a particular wavelength band and angle of incidence, normally 45° inside the cube. We design the coating in Essential Macleod for your wavelength, then deposit it in our own vacuum chambers.

Because the coating is sealed between two prisms, a cube is robust, easy to mount and has no beam offset in transmission. The four outer faces are AR coated, so the transmitted and reflected beams lose very little light at the surfaces.

Performance depends on bandwidth: the narrower the wavelength band and the better collimated the beam, the cleaner the separation of the two polarizations. Tell us your wavelength, bandwidth and beam angles and we'll design the coating to suit. The cube is built from two right angle prisms, polished on our own lines.

PS
Polarizing beamsplitter cube: P transmitted, S reflected.
Unpolarized inP transmittedS reflected
The coated, cemented hypotenuse splits the two polarizations.
Applications

Where Our Polarizing Cubes Are Used

Laser systemsSplitting, combining and controlling the power of polarized beams.
Optical isolationUsed with a waveplate to stop back-reflections reaching a laser.
Imaging and projectionSeparating polarization channels in cameras, displays and projectors.
InterferometrySeparating and recombining reference and measurement beams.
Metrology and sensingPolarization-sensitive measurement and inspection systems.
Research opticsQuantum, laser and polarization experiments.
Specification

Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube Specification

These are our standard tolerances. If your design needs tighter, tell us which parameter. We'll tell you plainly whether we can hold it, and what it adds to cost.

Size rangeCubes made to your drawing, from small cubes for compact instruments upward
Dimension tolerance±0.1mm
Angle tolerance±3 arcmin standard, tighter on request
ConstructionTwo right angle prisms cemented, polarizing coating on the hypotenuse
Polarizing coatingDielectric multilayer, designed for your wavelength band and angle
AdhesivesNorland and NTT, others on request
Flatnessλ/4 @ 633nm
Surface quality (scratch-dig)60/40 standard, 40/20 on request
MaterialsSchott, Ohara and CDGM optical glass; fused silica
CoatingsPolarizing coating on the hypotenuse; broadband AR or V-coat on the four outer faces
FinishingBlackened edges, protective chamfers, steps, bevels, drilled holes

Not sure what to specify? Tell us the wavelength or band, the beam angles inside the cube and how cleanly the two polarizations must be separated. We'll design the coating and tell you plainly what is achievable.

Options

Made to Fit Your System

CoatingsPolarizing coatings designed in Essential Macleod, plus AR on the outer faces
Edge featuresProtective chamfers, steps, bevels and blackened faces, CNC shaped to suit your mount
Mounts and housingsPrism mounts and housings from our own machine shop Cementing and assemblyCubes cemented in our cleanroom, and fitted into mounts or assemblies
Questions

Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube Questions

How does a polarizing beamsplitter cube work?
A multilayer dielectric coating on the cemented hypotenuse reflects S-polarized light and transmits P-polarized light. An unpolarized beam is split into two beams at 90° to each other, each polarized.
What is the difference between S and P polarization?
P-polarized light vibrates in the plane that contains the incoming beam and the reflected beam. S-polarized light vibrates at right angles to it. In a polarizing cube, P passes straight through and S is reflected.
Can you design the polarizing coating for my wavelength?
Yes. We design each polarizing coating in Essential Macleod for your wavelength or band and angle of incidence, then deposit it in our own chambers. Narrower bands give better separation of the two polarizations.
Do you make calcite polarizers such as Glan-Taylor or Wollaston prisms?
No. We make coated polarizing beamsplitter cubes in optical glass. They suit most laser, imaging and sensing applications. If you need a crystal polarizer, we can talk through whether a coated cube would do the job.
Why choose a cube rather than a plate beamsplitter?
A cube seals the coating between two prisms, so it is robust and easy to clean and mount. The transmitted beam isn't offset sideways, and there are no ghost reflections from a second plate surface.
What do you need to quote a polarizing beamsplitter cube?
The cube size, wavelength or band, the polarization separation you need, beam angles, coatings on the outer faces and quantities for prototype and production.

Other Prisms We Manufacture

Right angle Penta Roof Dove Risley Optical wedges PSPolarizing cubes

Or see our full optical prism manufacturing capability, and our optical design service if you need help choosing or designing a prism.

Getting a Quote for Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes

Send us your prism drawing. An engineer from the team that would make your prisms, not a sales team, will review it. They'll tell you plainly what's achievable and what will drive cost.

What to send

  • Cube size, or a drawing (PDF or ISO 10110)
  • Wavelength or wavelength band
  • Beam angles and the polarization separation you need
  • AR coating on the outer faces
  • Quantities: prototypes and expected production volumes

What happens next

  1. An engineer reviews itWithin one working day, flagging anything that will drive cost or lead time.
  2. We quote the prismFor the prototype, and for production at your volumes.
  3. We make, measure and deliverAll in Rye, with inspection data if you need it.
Start Your RFQ

Need a Custom Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube?

Send your drawing, or describe what the prism needs to do. We'll tell you plainly how we'd make it, what it will cost and how long it will take.

Send Your Prism Drawing Call 01797 226202
Made in Rye, East Sussex. NDA-friendly. Defence and security work welcome. ISO 9001:2015.