Glan-Thompson Polarizer

Calcite is a naturally occurring birefringent crystal. By precisely controlling internal prism angles in these calcite polarizers, a very efficient linear polarizer is produced.

Meadowlark Optics offers Glan-Thompson Polarizers, intended for precision optical instrumentation and low power laser applications. Key advantages of Glan-Thompson Polarizers include excellent extinction ratio performance and a broad spectral range.

Our Glan-Thompson Polarizers are supplied in a black anodized cylindrical housing for easy mounting. The housing is marked to indicate the polarization axis of the transmitted beam. The rejected component of the beam is totally internally reflected and eventually absorbed by the anodized aluminum. ​

Key Features

  • Broad spectral range
  • Excellent extinction ratio
  • Wide field of view
  • Low wavefront distortion

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Green Architecture
Evermind™ template is crafted like sustainable structures — clean, scalable, and built to last.
Precision Engineering
Every layout and component is tuned with variables and pixel-perfect details, so your brand stands on solid ground.
Dynamic Interactions
From nature-inspired transitions to fluid page structures, Evermind™ feels alive yet quietly sophisticated.
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Polarization Optics & SLMs
What is a Glan-Thompson Polarizer and how does it work?

A Glan-Thompson Polarizer is a crystal polarizer made from two calcite prisms cemented together. Light splits at the cemented interface by total internal reflection, transmitting one polarization and rejecting the other.

What extinction ratio does a Glan-Thompson Polarizer achieve?

Glan-Thompson polarizers achieve very high extinction ratios, typically exceeding 100,000:1, making them among the highest-quality linear polarizers available.

What wavelength range do Glan-Thompson Polarizers cover?

Calcite-based Glan-Thompson Polarizers are typically transparent from approximately 350 nm to 2.3 um, covering the UV through near-infrared spectrum.

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