Diffractive Spiral Phase Plate Discription

Spiral phase plates may also be referred to as vortex phase plates or optical vortex plates. It also possesses other names based on its structure and diffraction principles, such as diffractive optical vortex plates or spiral phase gratings.

By introducing azimuthally dependent, helically distributed phase delays through its spiral-etched, multi-layered stepped Wiener structures, it alters the optical wavefront. Its core function is to convert an incident Gaussian beam into a vortex beam carrying orbital angular momentum.

All phases converge at the spiral center and cancel each other out, resulting in zero intensity at the core and forming a dark nucleus—one of the most distinctive features of spiral beams, hence the name “spiral phase plate.” Coligh designs and manufactures spiral phase plates, customizing vortex phase plates for enterprises and academic institutions across wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared.

Diffractive Spiral Phase Plate Product Features

As China’s leading manufacturer of diffractive optical elements, our high-precision diffractive spiral phase plates feature the following characteristics:

• Custom designs covering the full wavelength range from ultraviolet and visible light to mid- and far-infrared, specifically optimized for clients’ laser wavelengths
• Element diameters ranging from small sizes up to 6 inches, enabling beam matching
• Employing continuous relief topography via micro-nano-grating technology, we maximize conversion of incident light into pure vortex beams with target topological number, making them ideal for high-power laser applications.
• Utilizing substrates like fused silica and zinc selenide, combined with specially customized anti-reflective coatings, ensures stable operation of spiral phase plates under continuous high-power laser conditions.
• We support both integer and half-integer topological numbers, meeting the demands of both high-efficiency fundamental research and complex industrial systems.

Coligh Diffractive Spiral Phase Plate Custom Capability

We offer fully customized spiral phase plates（SPP）covering a wide spectral range from 200 nm to 30 μm, with high transmission and optimized diffraction efficiency. Multiple substrate materials, phase levels, clear apertures, and anti-reflection coatings. They are available to meet the requirements of laser processing, optical trapping, microscopy, quantum optics, and free-space optical communication.

Diffractive Votex Phase Plate Application

• STEP Microscope
  The STEP microscope employs a spiral phase plate to suppress peripheral emission from fluorescent diffraction spots, achieving sub-diffraction-limit resolution. The spiral phase plate transforms Gaussian-distributed depleted laser light into a ring-shaped vortex beam with zero intensity at its center. This enables super-resolution imaging by allowing only the central nanoscale region to emit light, facilitating observation of organelle structures and processes such as viral invasion.
• Quantum Information
  Helical phase plates convert pump lasers into entangled photon pairs in OAM states, enhancing the information capacity of individual photons and enabling more complex computations.
• Laser Material Processing
  In traditional Gaussian beam processing, central heat buildup compromises material precision. For micro-pore drilling, annular cutting, or 3D microstructures, spiral phase plates enable direct annular beam utilization for cutting, drilling, or helical drilling. This facilitates complex structural fabrication while ensuring processing speed and consistency.