Full visible and near-infrared coverage in a single absorptive element — 400 to 1000 nm — with imaging-grade contrast and no back-reflection artifacts.
The BVO NIR Ultra is a purely absorptive, broadband hybrid linear polarizer engineered to cover the entire visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectrum from 400 nm to 1000 nm in a single optical element. Designed for system architects who demand simplicity without sacrificing performance, the NIR Ultra eliminates the need for multiple polarizers across a VIS/NIR system — reducing component count, cost, and alignment complexity.
Unlike reflective wire grid polarizers, the NIR Ultra is fully absorptive and non-reflective, making it ideal for systems where back-reflected light would degrade performance or damage sensitive components. Its exceptional contrast ratio — 20,000:1 in the visible and 7,000:1 in the NIR — combined with imaging-grade wavefront quality makes it a direct replacement for wire grid polarizers in the majority of broadband optical systems.
Manufactured by Bolder Vision Optik in Boulder, Colorado, the NIR Ultra is available as film stock, PSA-converted sheet, or mounted in BBAR-coated BK-7 glass components for precision OEM integration.
Input light: plane polarized. Tp = single-pass transmission (parallel polarizers). Tc = dark-state transmission (crossed polarizers). Data: nominal measured performance. Bolder Vision Optik, Inc. | www.boldervision.com | 303.440.3327
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Performance Range | 400 nm – 1,000 nm |
| Contrast Ratio | 20,000:1 Visible / 7,000:1 NIR (nominal) |
| Maximum Dimension | 297 mm × 210 mm (A4) |
| Thickness with PSA | 0.345 mm |
| Base Film Thickness | 80 micron |
| Film Cut Tolerances | ± 50 microns |
| PSA Adhesive | None standard; PSA conversion available |
| Operating Temperature | −20°C to +70°C |
| Damage Threshold | 1 W/cm² CW; 0.2 J/cm² @ 20 ns pulse (visible) |
| Color | Neutral Gray |
| Substrate | Plastic Cellulose Triacetate, dichroic |
| Surface Quality | 80/50 Scratch-Dig |
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Outer Diameter | 25.4 mm ± 0.20 mm |
| Wavefront Distortion | λ/2 measured at 632 nm |
| Thickness | 6.41 mm ± 0.20 mm |
| Substrates | BK-7 optical glass |
| Surface Quality | 40/20 Scratch-Dig |
| Beam Deviation | 2 arc minutes |
| Anti-Reflective Coatings | 400–900 nm BBAR or 700–1100 nm BBAR |
| Property | Wire Grid Polarizer | BVO NIR Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Back-reflection | Significant — reflects rejected polarization state | None — fully absorptive design |
| Cost | High — nanofabricated metal grid substrate | Lower — polymer film construction |
| Large aperture availability | Limited and expensive | Up to A4 (297 × 210 mm) |
| Custom shaping | Difficult; fragile substrate | .dxf routing or laser cut to spec, ±50 µm |
| Wavelength coverage | Broadband (reflective) | 400–1000 nm absorptive, single element |
| Integration formats | Typically mounted only | Film, PSA, glass laminate, custom geometry |