Key Features
- High Reflection & High Transmission: Precisely reflects S-polarized light (Rs > 99%) while efficiently transmitting P-polarized light (Tp > 96%), ensuring minimal optical loss.
- High Extinction Ratio: Delivers excellent polarization purity with a high extinction ratio, enabling high-contrast and high-precision optical performance.
- Wide Wavelength Coverage: Available for visible to near-infrared (VIS–NIR) wavelength ranges, supporting both single-line and broadband applications.
- Accurate Polarization Separation: Splits randomly polarized light into two orthogonal linear polarization states for reliable polarization control.
- Robust Cube Construction: Cemented prism cube design provides superior mechanical stability and angular accuracy compared with plate PBS solutions.
General Description
Shape Optics Technologies (SOT) offers high-performance Polarizing Beam Splitter Cubes designed to efficiently separate randomly polarized light into S- and P-polarized components. In a PBS cube, S-polarized light is reflected, while P-polarized light is transmitted, enabling precise polarization management within compact optical systems.
Manufactured from BK7 or fused silica substrates and coated with advanced thin-film polarization coatings, SOT PBS cubes deliver high transmission, excellent reflection efficiency, and long-term environmental stability. With their high extinction ratio and low wavefront distortion, these components are ideal for AR/VR optics, 3D projection displays, laser systems, biomedical instruments, and military/aerospace applications.
Standard wavelength coverage ranges from 488 nm to 1200 nm, with both single-band and broadband designs available.
Spectrum Transmission Curves & Customization
Standard spectral performance data is available upon request.
If off-the-shelf products do not meet your requirements, custom Polarizing Beam Splitter Cubes can be engineered to your exact wavelength range, cube size, angle of incidence, and polarization performance.
Contact us to discuss your application or request a custom quotation.
Coating Quality & Environmental Reliability
All SOT PBS cubes are tested according to MIL-C-675C and CCC-C-440 standards:
- Adhesion Test: LT-90 tape test (3 removals), no blistering or peeling
- Temperature Cycling: −62 ±1 °C to 71 ±1 °C, no film detachment
- Abrasion Resistance: 1.0 lb gauze test, 25 cycles, no surface damage
- Humidity Resistance: 49 ±2 °C, 95–100% RH for 24 h, film intact
- Solvent & Cleaning: Acetone/alcohol exposure, no peeling or scratches
- Salt Spray: 100 h at 35 °C with 5% NaCl, no corrosion
Standard Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Substrate | BK7, Fused Silica |
| Cube Size | 3 mm up to 50 mm / 55 × 55 mm |
| Transmission (P-pol) | Tp > 96% |
| Reflection (S-pol) | Rs > 99% |
| Surface Quality | 60-40 |
| Operating Temperature | −40 °C to +60 °C |
| Wavelength Range | 488–1200 nm (customizable) |
Standard Products
Single-Band Polarizing Beam Splitter Cubes
| Wavelength (nm) | Performance | 10×10×10 mm | 25.4×25.4×25.4 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 488 | Tp > 96%, Rs > 99% | PBS-488-01 | PBS-488-50-02 |
| 532 | Tp > 96%, Rs > 99% | PBS-532-01 | PBS-532-50-02 |
| 650 | Tp > 96%, Rs > 99% | PBS-650-01 | PBS-650-50-02 |
| 808 | Tp > 96%, Rs > 99% | PBS-808-01 | PBS-808-50-02 |
| 976 | Tp > 96%, Rs > 99% | PBS-976-01 | PBS-976-50-02 |
| 1064 | Tp > 96%, Rs > 99% | PBS-1064-01 | PBS-1064-50-02 |
Broadband Polarizing Beam Splitter Cubes
| Wavelength Range (nm) | Performance | 10×10×10 mm | 25.4×25.4×25.4 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 420–680 | Tpave > 95%, Rs > 99% | PBS-VIS-01 | PBS-VIS-50-02 |
| 600–900 | Tpave > 95%, Rs > 99% | PBS-600-900-01 | PBS-600-900-50-02 |
| 900–1200 | Tpave > 95%, Rs > 99% | PBS-900-1200-01 | PBS-900-1200-50-02 |
| 1200–1600 | Tpave > 95%, Rs > 99% | PBS-1200-1600-01 | PBS-1200-1600-50-02 |
Customization options (size, wavelength band, extinction ratio) are available upon request.
Applications
- AR / Smart Glasses – High-efficiency polarization control for compact displays
- 3D Projection Displays – Accurate beam separation for left/right eye channels
- Biomedical Instruments – Optical imaging, diagnostics, and polarization-sensitive detection
- Laser Systems – Beam routing, isolation, and polarization management
- Military & Aerospace – Optical sensors, laser communications, and targeting systems
SOT Strengths & Capabilities
SOT combines advanced thin-film coating technology, precision cube fabrication, and strict quality assurance to deliver reliable polarizing beam splitter cubes for demanding environments. We support both standard catalog products and fully customized PBS cube solutions, ensuring optimal performance for each application.