Economy Visible Beamsplitters

Designed for use with Unpolarized Light in the 450 - 650 nm Range
Optimized to Provide a 50:50 or 30:70 Split Where Polarization
Sensitivity is Not a Consideration

EBP1

(Ø1")

EBP2

(Ø2")

Related Items

Beamsplitters

Fixed Optic Mounts

Optic Spacer Rings

Power and Energy Meters

Detectors

Mirrors

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Overview
Specs
Graphs
BS Selection Guide
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Common Specifications
Substrate Material	Soda Lime Glass
Coating (One Side)	Refractory Oxide Dielectric
Thickness (Nominal)	1 mm
Surface Quality	80-50 Scratch-Dig as per MIL-013830A
Clear Aperture	>90% of Diameter
Temperature Range	-50 to 80 °C

Click to Enlarge
EBP1 economy beamsplitter mounted in a KM100 mirror mount using an SM1S6M 6 mm optic spacer.

Thorlabs' Economy Beamsplitters, which have an exposed oxide coating on one side and are uncoated on the other side, are designed to have either a 50:50 or 30:70 splitting ratio in the visible spectral range (450 - 650 nm) when used with unpolarized light incident at 45° and oriented such that the coated surface faces the source. Please note that the Fresnel reflections from the uncoated back surface of these economy beamsplitters can lead to interference effects in the reflected beam. For applications sensitive to these effects, consider using a cube beamsplitter.

The graphs below shows reflectivity and transmission data for these Economy Visible Beamsplitters in the specified wavelength range. Extended plots showing reflectivity in the 400 - 2300 nm spectral range are available on the Graphs tab.

Because these beamsplitters are just 1 mm thick, significant stress results if they are placed into optic mounts that use setscrews. Our Optic Spacers provide a wide, rigid surface against which the setscrew can be tightened without causing damage to the optic.

Item #	EBS1	EBP1	EBS2	EBP2
Substrate	Soda Lime Glass
Diameter	1" (25.4 mm)		2" (50.8 mm)
Diameter Tolerance	+0.0/-0.25 mm		+0.0/-0.5 mm
Thickness (Nominal)	1 mm
Splitter Ratio	50:50	30:70	50:50	30:70
Splitter Ratio Tolerance for 450 - 650 nm (AOI = 45°)	Transmittance: 50% ± 10% Reflectance: 50% ± 10%	Transmittance: 70% ± 10% Reflectance: 30% ± 10%	Transmittance: 50% ± 10% Reflectance: 50% ± 10%	Transmittance: 70% ± 10% Reflectance: 30% ± 10%
Surface Quality	80-50 Scratch-Dig as per MIL-013830A
Clear Aperture	>90% of Diameter
Temperature Range	-50 to 80 °C

45° AOI

The highlighted regions represent the specified wavelength range (450 - 650 nm) of these Economy Visible Beamsplitters. The transmission and reflection outside of this region may vary for each coating run.

EBS Plot
Click to Enlarge
Click Here for Raw Data

0° AOI

These Beamsplitters were designed for performance at 45° AOI. The data shown below is for informational purposes only.

EBP Plot
Click to Enlarge
Click Here for Raw Data

EBS Plot
Click to Enlarge
Click Here for Raw Data

Beamsplitter Selection Guide

Thorlabs' portfolio contains many different kinds of beamsplitters, which can split beams by intensity or by polarization. We offer plate and cube beamsplitters, though other form factors exist, including pellicle and birefringent crystal. For an overview of the different types and a comparison of their features and applications, please see our overview. Many of our beamsplitters come in premounted or unmounted variants. Below is a complete listing of our beamsplitter offerings. To explore the available types, wavelength ranges, splitting/extinction ratios, transmission, and available sizes for each beamsplitter category, click More [+] in the appropriate row below.

Plate Beamsplitters

Non-Polarizing Plate Beamsplitters

Polarizing Plate Beamsplitters

45° AOI Unless Otherwise Noted
30 arcmin Wedge on Round Optics Only
Designed for use with P-polarized light.

Cube Beamsplitters

Non-Polarizing Cube Beamsplitters

Polarizing Cube and Polyhedron Beamsplitters

Pellicle Beamsplitters

Non-Polarizing Pellicle Beamsplitters

Crystal Beamsplitters

Polarizing Crystal Beamsplitters

Mounted in a protective box, unthreaded ring, or cylinder.
Available unmounted or mounted in a protective box or unthreaded cylinder.

Other

Other Beamsplitters

Posted Comments:

yusefzadib (posted 2017-05-03 16:06:18.607)

Hi Is there any product that can combine tow identical (same wavelengths) beam? Best Regard Mahdi

tfrisch (posted 2017-05-03 11:54:24.0)

Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I will reach out to you about your application and whether the beams are coherent and whether constructive interference could be used. However, there is not an optic that can transmit fully in one direction and reflect fully from the other direction at the same wavelength.

yusefzadib (posted 2017-05-03 15:39:53.327)

Hi What will happen If the beam is applied to the non-coated side? Is it still divides beam at ratio of 50 to 50? I had to apply beam to non-coated side. Best Regards Mahdi

tfrisch (posted 2017-05-03 11:42:49.0)

Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I will reach out to you directly, but the biggest impact will be that the ghost beams will contain slightly more power if the beamsplitter is used in reverse. Applications where light passes both directions through a beam splitter are common.

smiloaf (posted 2016-11-28 18:19:20.63)

Shining a solid state diode pulsed laser straight through one of the EBS2 beamsplitters caused a banding effect as seen here - http://imgur.com/a/sLW8m Is this caused by the material of the splitter itself, and would it be resolved if, for example, a beamsplitter cube was used instead? Thanks.

tfrisch (posted 2016-11-29 01:24:48.0)

Hello, thank you for including that image. It looks like an interference effect due to multiple surface reflections off of the uncoated back surface. A cube beam splitter would help mitigate these interference effects.

zhangjun.wang (posted 2016-07-11 18:15:46.323)

The splitter ratio of EBP2 is 30:70 (R:T). Do you have a Beam Splitter with 70:30 (R:T) splitter ratio?

bw (posted 2016-01-25 15:36:13.25)

I am looking for the old "half-silvered mirror" metallized beam-splitter for use with quadrature interferometry. A protective coating over the metallization would be welcome and parallel surfaces (no wedge) are needed. I also need a dielectric reflection from the back, but I can generate that with plain glass if all of yours are AR coated. Most of your products obviously will not work, but others don't seem to say explicitly whether they utilize the metallization layer that I need. Do you, in fact, offer metallized beam-splitters? If so, what are some of their model numbers (1 inch optics preferred).

besembeson (posted 2016-02-01 10:28:06.0)

Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: We don't have such half-slivered mirrors as stock items for quadrature interferometry. We can add a dielectric coating as required and we can provide a custom solution based on your requirements. I will follow-up with you.

roger.ding (posted 2015-08-12 00:30:26.787)

An option to buy these thin economy beamsplitters mounted in a thicker housing to make mounting into something like the KM100 easier (similar to how the pellicle beamsplitters are mounted in a protective ring) would be helpful. I've looked at the SM1AB1, but I think it would cut the clear aperture down quite a bit when using the beamsplitter at 45 degrees.

besembeson (posted 2015-08-18 08:42:05.0)

Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: We do have optics spacers (https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_ID=4085) that you can use in this case. The optic is placed into the KM100 followed by a spacer and the nylon-tipped setscrew locks to the spacer.

bradford.behr (posted 2015-04-17 13:20:31.9)

What is the specification for the surface figure (e.g. lambda/4) for these beamsplitters? I see the spec for scratch/dig, but not the wavefront flatness. Thanks!

besembeson (posted 2015-04-30 02:50:25.0)

Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: These would typically be 2 lambda (peak to valley).

zhangzyster (posted 2015-02-21 23:09:58.47)

Hi, do you offer other size options? I need this half/half splitter about 100mm*150mm in size.

besembeson (posted 2015-02-26 04:13:05.0)

Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: We can provide custom versions of this beamsplitter. I will followup with you by email for quotation.

user (posted 2014-01-10 17:06:54.21)

Hello, I have 2 questions concerning the economic beam splitters (I am more interested in the EBP version): - Do they work under normal incidence? - In this condition, they should be insensitive to polarisation, right?

jlow (posted 2014-01-15 08:39:28.0)

Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: The beamsplitter is meant to be used with 45° angle of incidence (AOI). At small AOI, the beam splitting ratio will change significantly and the spectral response will not be as flat in the visible range.

wwbsghr (posted 2013-08-05 20:02:34.377)

what's the Damage Threshold of economic beamspliter EBS2 and EBP2?

tcohen (posted 2013-08-08 15:32:00.0)

Response from Tim at Thorlabs: At this time we have a conservative theoretical value of 1W/cm^2. We are continuing to increase our knowledge-base on damage thresholds for optics, but in the meantime if power handling is a concern, we do have other higher power beamsplitters. We will contact you to discuss your requirements.

user (posted 2013-05-01 16:59:11.723)

the % reflection scale of your graph doesnt make sense, it is backwards

sharrell (posted 2013-05-02 11:47:00.0)

Response from Sean at Thorlabs: Thank you for pointing out that our graph was confusing. The data was correct-- there were separate lines for reflection and transmission. I made new graphs for this page so that each type of beamsplitter has it's own plot; I hope that this makes the data easier to understand.

Greg (posted 2010-04-29 09:36:14.0)

A response from Greg at Thorlabs to wwarger: We now have a graph from 400 nm to 2300 nm on the Overview tab. Data for this graph can be downloaded by clicking on it.

Adam (posted 2010-04-28 12:11:46.0)

A response from Adam at Thorlabs to wwarger: We are working on getting the data for the EBS1 at this range as well. We will post the data on the web as soon as we get the appropriate data. I will send you the data we have on the EBP1 directly.

wwarger (posted 2010-04-28 10:16:44.0)

It would be extremely helpful if the previously requested spec from 1064 - 2000 nm was posted on the website.

apalmentieri (posted 2010-02-02 14:43:57.0)

A response form Adam at Thorlabs to Nick: I am currently working on getting you a scan of the EBP1 that will provide you with the data you are looking for. I will send this to you via your email address.

nick (posted 2010-02-02 14:21:56.0)

Hello, Can you tell me what its T/R would be from 1064 to 2000 nm? Thank you, Nick

30:70 Economy Beamsplitters

Zoom

Click to Enlarge
Click Here for Raw Data
For a plot showing the performance over the 400 to 2300 nm range, please see the Graphs Tab above.

Item #	EBP1	EBP2
Diameter	1" (25.4 mm)	2" (50.8 mm)
Diameter Tolerance	+0.0/-0.25 mm	+0.0/-0.5 mm
Splitter Ratio Tolerance for 450 - 650 nm (AOI = 45°)	Transmittance: 70% ± 10% Reflectance: 30% ± 10%

50:50 Economy Beamsplitters

Zoom

Click to Enlarge
Click Here for Raw Data
For a plot showing the performance over the 400 to 2300 nm range, please see the Graphs Tab above.

Item #	EBS1	EBS2
Diameter	1" (Ø25.4 mm)	2" (Ø50.8 mm)
Diameter Tolerance	+0.0/-0.25 mm	+0.0/-0.5 mm
Splitter Ratio Tolerance for 450 - 650 nm (AOI = 45°)	Transmittance: 50% ± 10% Reflectance: 50% ± 10%

Type	Wavelength Range	Splitting Ratio (R:T)	Typical Reflectance^a (Click for Plot)	Typical Transmission^a (Click for Plot)	Backside AR Coating	Available Wedged	Available Sizes (Unmounted)
Economy	450 - 650 nm	30:70			No	No	Ø1" and Ø2"
Economy	450 - 650 nm	50:50			No	No	Ø1" and Ø2"
UV Fused Silica for UV	250 - 450 nm	50:50			Yes	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
UV Fused Silica for UV to NIR	350 - 1100 nm	50:50			Yes	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
UV Fused Silica for Visible	400 - 700 nm	10:90			Yes	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
		30:70
		50:50
		70:30
		90:10
UV Fused Silica for Visible to IR	600 - 1700 nm	50:50			Yes	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
UV Fused Silica for NIR	700 - 1100 nm	10:90			Yes	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
		30:70
		50:50
		70:30
		90:10
UV Fused Silica for NIR	1.2 - 1.6 µm	10:90			Yes	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
		30:70
		50:50
		70:30
		90:10
IR Fused Silica for IR	0.9 - 2.6 µm	50:50			Yes	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
CaF₂ for IR	1.0 - 6.0 µm	50:50			No	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
CaF₂ for IR	2.0 - 8.0 µm	50:50			No	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2"
ZnSe for IR	1.0 - 12.0 µm	50:50			Yes	Yes^b	Ø1"
ZnSe for IR	7.0 - 14.0 µm	50:50			Yes	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2"
Laser Line for Nd: YAG	532 nm	50:50			Yes	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
Laser Line for Nd: YAG	1064 nm	50:50			Yes	Yes^b	Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
Polka Dot	250 nm - 2.0 µm	50:50	0° and 8° 45°		No	No	Ø1", 1" x 1", and Ø2"
	350 nm - 2.0 µm		0° and 8° 45°		No	No	Ø1", 1" x 1", and Ø2"
	180 nm - 8.0 µm		0° and 12° 45°		No	No	Ø1" and Ø2"
Ultrafast with Controlled GDD^c	600 - 1500 nm	20:80			Yes	No	Ø1"
		50:50
		80:20
		90:10
	1000 - 2000 nm	50:50

Type	Center Wavelength	Extinction Ratio (T_P:T_S)	Typical Transmission^a (Click for Plot)	Backside AR Coated	Available Wedged	Available Sizes (Unmounted)
Standard	405 nm	>10 000:1		No	Yes^b	Ø1" and 25 mm x 36 mm
	532 nm
	633 nm
	780 nm
	808 nm
	1030 nm
	1064 nm
	1310 nm
	1550 nm

Type	Wavelength Range	Splitting Ratio (R:T)	Typical Transmission (Click for Plot)	AR Coated Faces (Click for Plot)	Cemented	Available Cube Side Length
Visible: Unmounted 16 mm Cage Cube 30 mm Cage Cube	400 - 700 nm	10:90			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1"
		30:70			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1"
		50:50			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1", and 2" Mounted: 20 mm in a 16 mm Cage Cube, 1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
		70:30			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1"
		90:10			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1"
NIR: Unmounted 16 mm Cage Cube 30 mm Cage Cube	700 - 1100 nm	10:90			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1"
		30:70			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1"
		50:50			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1", and 2" Mounted: 20 mm in a 16 mm Cage Cube, 1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
		70:30			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1"
		90:10			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1"
IR: Unmounted 16 mm Cage Cube 30 mm Cage Cube	1100 - 1600 nm	10:90			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1"
		30:70			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1"
		50:50			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1", and 2" Mounted: 20 mm in a 16 mm Cage Cube, 1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
		70:30			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1"
		90:10			Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm,1"

Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio (T_P:T_S)	Typical Transmission	AR Coated Faces	Cemented	Available Cube/ Polyhedron Side Length
Standard: Unmounted 16 mm Cage Cube 30 mm Cage Cube	420 - 680 nm	>1000:1		Yes	Yes	Unmounted: 5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm, 1", and 2" Mounted: 20 mm in a 16 mm Cage Cube, 1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	620 - 1000 nm
	700 - 1300 nm
	900 - 1300 nm
	1200 - 1600 nm
Wire Grid: Unmounted 30 mm Cage Cube	400 - 700 nm	>1000:1 (AOI: 0° - 5°) >100:1 (AOI: 0° - 25°)	P-Pol. S-Pol.	Yes	Yes	Unmounted: 1" Mounted: 20 mm in a 16 mm Cage Cube, 1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
High-Power Laser Line: Unmounted 30 mm Cage Cube	355 nm	>2000:1			No	Unmounted: 1/2" and 1" Mounted: 1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	405 nm
	532 nm
	633 nm
	780 - 808 nm
	1064 nm
Laser Line: Unmounted 30 mm Cage Cube	532 nm	>3000:1		Yes	Yes	Unmounted: 10 mm, 1/2", and 1" Mounted: 1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	633 nm
	780 nm
	980 nm
	1064 nm
	1550 nm
High-Power, Broadband, High Extinction Ratio Polarizers	700 - 1100 nm	>1000:1 (700 - 1100 nm) >5000:1 (750 - 1000 nm) >10 000:1 (800 - 900 nm)		Yes	No	12.7 mm (Input/Output Face, Square)
	900 - 1300 nm	>1000:1 (900 - 1300 nm) >10 000:1 (900 - 1250 nm) >100 000:1 (980 - 1080 nm)				10.0 mm and 5.0 mm (Input/Output Face, Square)
Laser-Line Variable	532 nm	Not Specified	No Graph Available	Yes	Yes	Assembly Mounted in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	633 nm
	780 nm
	1064 nm
	1550 nm
Broadband Variable	420 - 680 nm	Not Specified	No Graph Available	Yes	Yes	Assembly Mounted in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	690 - 1000 nm
	900 - 1200 nm
	1200 - 1600 nm
Circular Polarizer/Beamsplitter	532 nm	Not Specified	No Graph Available	Yes	Yes	Assembly Mounted in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	633 nm
	780 nm
	1064 nm
	1550 nm

Type	Wavelength Range	Splitting Ratio (R:T)	Typical Reflectance^a (Click for Plot)	Typical Transmission^a (Click for Plot)	Available Sizes
Pellicle: Unmounted 30 mm Cage Cube	400 - 2400 nm	8:92			Unmounted: Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" Mounted: Ø1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	300 - 400 nm	45:55			Unmounted: Ø1" and Ø2" Mounted: Ø1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	400 - 700 nm	45:55			Unmounted: Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" Mounted: Ø1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	635 nm	33:67			Unmounted: Ø1/2", Ø1", Ø2" Mounted: Ø1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	635 nm	50:50			Unmounted: Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" Mounted: Ø1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	700 - 900 nm	45:55			Unmounted: Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" Mounted: Ø1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	1.0 - 2.0 µm	45:55			Unmounted: Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" Mounted: Ø1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube
	3.0 - 5.0 µm	45:55			Unmounted: Ø1/2" and Ø1" Mounted: Ø1" in a 30 mm Cage Cube

Type	Wavelength Range	Splitting Ratio	Substrate Transmission	Typical Reflectance	Available Sizes (Unmounted)
Wedged Plate Beamsplitter	185 nm - 2.1 µm	-		-	2" x 1" (L x H) 8.0 mm (Middle Thickness) Wedge Angle: 5°
Brewster Windows	185 nm - 2.1 µm	-			6.0 mm, 8.0 mm, 13.0 mm, 16.0 mm, 20.0 mm, and 25.0 mm (Minor Diameters)

Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio (T_P:T_S)	Typical Beam Separation Angle (Click for Representative Diagram)	Typcial Substrate Transmission (Click for Plot)	Typical Coating Reflectance (Click for Plot)	Cemented	Available Sizes
Calcite Beam Displacers	350 nm - 2.3 µm	Not Specified	Parallel with 2.7 mm Spacing at 1500 nm		Uncoated	No	10 mm^a (Clear Aperture, Square)
			Parallel with 4.0 mm Spacing at 1500 nm				10 mm^a (Clear Aperture, Square)
Yttrium Orthovanadate Beam Displacer	488 nm - 3.4 µm	Not Specified	Parallel with 1.2 mm Spacing at 2000 nm		Uncoated	No	>3 mm x 5 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Ellipse)
	2.0 µm
Wollaston Prisms	400 nm - 2.0 µm	>10 000:1	1° at 633 nm		Uncoated	Yes	Ø10 mm^a (Clear Aperture)
	200 nm - 6.0 µm	>10 000:1	1° 20' at 633 nm		Uncoated		Ø10 mm^a (Clear Aperture)
	190 nm - 3.5 µm	>100 000:1	20° at 250 nm		Protective MgF₂ (No Data)		Ø10 mm^a (Clear Aperture)
	350 nm - 2.3 µm	>100 000:1	20° at 633 nm		Uncoated		Ø10 mm^b (Clear Aperture)
							Ø10 mm^a (Clear Aperture)
							Ø10 mm^a (Clear Aperture)
	900 nm - 3.4 µm	>100 000:1	20° at 633 nm		Uncoated		Ø10 mm^a (Clear Aperture)
Rochon Prisms	200 nm - 6.0 µm	>10 000:1	1.5° at 4 µm		Uncoated	Yes	10 mm x 10 mm^a (Min Clear Aperture)
	488 nm - 3.4 µm	>100 000:1	10.6° at 2 µm