half-wave plate
[ haf-weyv, hahf- ]
/ ˈhæfˌweɪv, ˈhɑf- /
noun Optics.
a crystal thin enough to cause a phase difference of 180° between the ordinary and extraordinary rays of polarized light, thereby changing the direction of the plane of polarization.
Compare
quarter-wave plate.
Origin of half-wave plate
First recorded in 1900–05
Words nearby half-wave plate
half-truth,
half-turn,
half-turning,
half-used,
half-volley,
half-wave plate,
half-wave rectifier,
half-wit,
half-witted,
half-year,
halfback