Most SOP generators found on the market are expensive and based on fiber optics technology. The Arcoptix free space Polarization State Generator (PSG) or also called Eigen State Generator (EGS), is a transmitive free space optical system that permits to generate any arbitrary Polarization state (linear, elliptic, circular) from a linear input Polarization. You can, for example, transform a vertically linear polarized laser beam into a polarized beam of any angular direction as for example 10°,15°,25°,... the device works for any wavelength in VIS range and does not need any particular adaptation.

The PSG is electrically driven (low voltage) and has no moving part. The electrical driver is connected to a PC via an USB connection and the PSG is controlled with a "easy to use" software. Also, the PSG is fully programmable and can be controlled via a DLL with a custom made program or a LabVIEW VI for example.

The compact design with 25 mm in diameter permits to insert the device in standard opto-mechanical laboratory parts without any special adaptation.

The Arcoptix Polarization State Generator (PSG) is a transmitive optical system that permits to generate any Polarization state (linear, elliptic, circular) from a linear input Polarization. You can, for example, transform a vertically linear polarized laser beam into a polarized beam of any angular direction as for example 10°,15°,25°,...

The system is based on a system composed of a combination of two liquid crystal variable phase retarders (see explanation below) oriented respectively by 45° and 0° with respect to the entrance Polarization orientation.

As shown in figure below, the linear input Polarization is modified by the first LCVR orientated at 45° and then by the second one at 0°. By applying the adequate voltages V1 and V2, the phase retardations of both cells can be adapted to obtain any desired output Polarization state. Actually, the relative amplitude of the X- and Y-Polarization components of the output light is controlled by the first LCVR oriented at 45°, whereas the phase difference of the same components is controlled by the second LCVR. Therefore, by controlling the voltages applied to the two LCVRs, any states of Polarization for the output beam can be generated.

The figure below shows you a sequence of linearly Polarization of various orientations can be obtained from a linearly polarized laser beam by sequentially adjusting V1 and V2.