LBTEK Vortex Waveplate (Vortex Retarder, VR) is fabricated on an N-BK7 glass substrate with a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) functional layer, forming a “sandwich structure” of front and rear glass substrates + central LCP layer, and mounted in a standard SM1 lens tube. Within the LCP layer, the fast-axis orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is radially aligned and continuously varies along the azimuthal direction. Across the entire device plane, the waveplate provides a uniform λ/2 retardation, making it a single-wavelength component.

The vortex waveplate exhibits polarization-dependent optical properties. Depending on the polarization state of the incident beam, it can generate vector-polarized beams or vortex beams with a helical phase front, and can convert a TEM₀₀ Gaussian beam into a donut-shaped hollow intensity distribution (see technical notes for further details). Compared with conventional optical field modulation methods, the vortex waveplate offers the advantages of high efficiency and stability, easy operation, and dedicated functionality. Its true zero-order design further ensures reduced wavelength sensitivity, improved thermal stability, and a wider range of allowable incident angles.

LBTEK provides standard vortex waveplates with operating wavelengths (λ) selectable from 405–1550 nm and topological charges (m) from 1–128, while also supporting flexible customization of parameters and specifications.

For the LBTEK m=16 Vortex Waveplate, the fast-axis orientation of the liquid crystal molecules rotates by 180° × 16 over a full 360° azimuthal angle on the substrate. Under linearly polarized light, the resulting intensity distribution appears as shown in the figure on the right. The m=16 vortex waveplate is suitable for incident beams with diameters ranging from Ø1 mm to Ø21.5 mm. When illuminated with circularly polarized light, it generates Laguerre–Gaussian beams with OAM l = ±16. When illuminated with linearly polarized light, it generates higher-order vector-polarized beams. The smaller the selected vortex order (m), the smaller the central hollow of the output beam. The standard SM1 lens tube housing of the vortex waveplate is engraved with the product name and model, along with four etched lines marking the optical center.