Thin, flexible waveplate of fluorinated polyimide

Abstract

A thin optical half-waveplate at 1.55μm, only 14.5μm thick, which is 6.3 times as thin as a zeroth order quartz waveplate, is prepared using fluorinated polyimide. This material has good flexibility, thickness controllability, and high thermal stability. The retardation of the waveplate was retained after annealing at 350°C for 1 h.