Industry Trends and the Shift in Laser Technology

In recent years, the industrial sector has been under increasing pressure to improve energy efficiency and overall productivity.This stems from the need to reduce energy costs, minimize environmental impact, and boost manufacturing performance. Within this trend, a shift is underway from traditional CO₂ lasers (wavelength: 10,600 nm) to fiber lasers (wavelength: 1,064 nm), which offer greater efficiency, higher precision, more compact systems, and easier maintenance.
Fiber lasers are characterized by excellent beam quality, high electro-optical conversion efficiency, and low cooling requirements.
They contribute not only to enhanced processing performance but also to reduced operational costs and improved sustainability--leading to their growing adoption in manufacturing environments worldwide.

Expanding Fiber Laser Market

The fiber laser market is expected to continue growing in the coming years, with forecasts estimating approximately $4.5 billion USD by 2025 and over $8.0 billion USD by 2030.
Thanks to their high efficiency, high output power, operational stability, and system miniaturization, fiber lasers are being adopted across a wide range of industries.

【Primary Applications】

How Quartz Crystal Wave Plates Excel at 1,064 nm

As fiber lasers continue to gain traction, one optical component is finding new value at this wavelength range--the quartz crystal wave plate.The 1,064 nm wavelength of fiber lasers is well transmitted through quartz, making quartz crystal wave plates highly effective.This wavelength is also widely used as the fundamental harmonic of Nd:YAG solid-state lasers, where quartz wave plates have long been applied for polarization control.
In contrast, CO₂ lasers operate at 10,600 nm, a wavelength that quartz readily absorbs, making quartz wave plates unsuitable for those systems. With the growing adoption of fiber lasers, quartz wave plates are now applicable to a wider range of industrial laser processing fields. In laser processing systems, precise control of the polarization state plays a crucial role in ensuring processing stability and quality. Quartz wave plates offer excellent performance in this regard, enhancing their relevance in fiber laser systems.

Three Key Benefits of Quartz Crystal Wave Plates

■High Transmission
Quartz offers very high transmittance at 1,064 nm, minimizing energy loss.

■Heat Resistance
With excellent thermal stability, quartz maintains its performance even during prolonged exposure to high-power laser beams.

■Durability
Its high hardness and abrasion resistance ensure long service life and minimal maintenance requirements.

NDK's Commitment to High-Quality Quartz Crystal Wave Plates

At NDK, we offer quartz crystal wave plates optimized for fiber laser applications through a fully integrated process - from material development and precision processing to design and quality control.

■Ultra High Purity Synthetic Quartz Crystal "N-Grade EX"
NDK's top-grade synthetic quartz, "N-Grade EX," combines high laser durability with excellent transmittance.
Even under prolonged exposure to 1,064 nm laser irradiation, it maintains stable performance with minimal transmittance degradation.

■Highly Durable Coating Technology
High-durability coatings, engineered to resist laser-induced damage, help ensure reliable long-term performance.

Example of Coating for Laser Wave Plate（1,064nm）
　[ Laser Damaged Threshold Value: 99J/cm2 ]

■Direct Bonding Technology (Optical Contact)
Instead of adhesive bonding, NDK adopts an optical contact bonding method that joins materials directly through molecular attraction.
This technique ensures high-precision and high-durability performance, even in applications involving high-power lasers or short-wavelength light.

With the growing adoption of fiber lasers, quartz crystal wave plates are now being utilized in new wavelength regions where their performance can be fully realized.
At NDK, we leverage our decades of expertise in crystal processing and optical design to deliver highly reliable, high-performance quartz crystal wave plates.
Looking toward the future of high-efficiency, high-precision laser processing, we aim to position NDK's wave plates as a trusted solution in emerging laser wavelength applications.

※ NDK's ultra-high-purity quartz is not only suitable for 1,064 nm fundamental wavelengths, but also supports shorter wavelengths generated 
by Nd:YAG lasers--such as the second harmonic (532 nm), fourth harmonic (266 nm), and fifth harmonic (213 nm).
In these shorter wavelength ranges, photon energy increases and the risk of laser-induced damage to optical components becomes more significant. 
NDK offers solutions designed to meet these challenges.