Birefringent Crystals

Birefringent crystals are crystals that exhibit birefringence, which is the dependence of the refractive indices that the incident light encounters on the polarization direction of transmitted light. When light enters a birefringent crystal at an arbitrary angle (i.e. the light does propagate along the optical axis), the incident light will be split into two distinct beams with different speeds.  The birefringence in these crystals is a result of their different refractive indices along different crystallographic axes, and the difference arises from anisotropic crystal structures, and in most cases, non-cubic structures. This intriguing phenomenon makes birefringent crystals invaluable in various optical applications, offering a platform for manipulating and controlling light, and enabling applications such as polarization control, wavelength selection, and phase modulation. Birefringent crystals could be further categorized into uniaxial and biaxial crystals. The major difference between the two is that the former have one optical axis, and the latter have two optical axes, thus manifesting different optical properties. Birefringent crystals are the vital material for the fabrication of polarizing optics such as waveplates or retarders, polarizers, and prisms, where their ability to alter the polarization and phase of light is harnessed for precise optical modulation.

Hangzhou Shalom EO offers a diverse range of birefringent crystals, including YVO4, LiNbO3, Quartz, Calcite, MgF2, and alpha-BBO crystals. The crystals ingot, blanks, and polished and coated crystals are also available.