Fig. 2: Optical characterization of the full-silica quarter waveplate.

a, b Transmission measurements performed at the wavelength of 351 nm, in normal incidence, linear polarization oriented in the vertical direction (a) or horizontal direction (b). c, d Transmission wavefront of the quarter waveplate measured at 1064 nm at normal incidence over a 83 mm diameter centered on the clear aperture of the waveplate, c polarization oriented in the vertical direction., d polarization oriented in the horizontal direction. The white vertical thin line corresponds to the junction between the two areas of the waveplate associated with left and right circular polarization. e Power spectral Density (PSD) evaluated from (d): the green line presents a typical specification envision for a high power laser. f Quarter waveplate damage density. Measurements performed at the wavelength of 355 nm, pulse duration of 7.5 ns with grating placed either in the front or in the back side with respect to the testing beam. Error bars represent intervals of confidence calculated at two standard deviations.