On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 12:42:42 AM UTC-5, jare...@quantumlah.org wrote:   
   > Hello,   
   >    
   >    
   >    
   > I have a question regarding optically contacted polarizing beam splitters   
   (PBS) that has been bugging me for a little while now.   
   >    
   >    
   >    
   > To my understanding, optical contact means that two pieces of substrate, say   
   UV Fused silica, are brought into contact and then allowed to form molecular   
   bonds which are extremely strong. The two pieces then behave like a single   
   bulk.   
   >    
   > Now my questions are as follows:   
   >    
   > For PBS that are optically contacted, how does one get an anti-reflection   
   coating in? I suppose anti-reflection coating exists on the hypotenuse of   
   either one of the prism, but how is this still then able to "optically   
   contact"? Does this not prevent    
   the optical "contactness" from being optimal?   
   >    
   Hi,  I'm a bit confused.  (my normal state) Are you asking about where the two   
   prisms (1/2 cubes) are joined?  Or are you asking about contacting the outside   
   surface of the cube?  I've only used PBSC's a few times.  The AR coating was   
   on the outside (   
   four working faces) of the cube.     
   >    
   > Secondly, does it matter which side a laser enters the said PBS from? Does   
   it matter whether the incident surface on the prism that had the   
   anti-reflection coating on its hypotenuse? My guess would be no, because there   
   isn't any glue/epoxy that is used    
   to keep the pieces together. But it still seems like it matters?   
      
   I was going to say no it doesn't matter.  But I don't know exactly how the   
   innner polarizing section is made and it could be that there is some   
   difference.     
   (Perhaps ask the optics place that is making the PBSC's.)   
      
   George H.   
   >    
   >    
   >    
   > Would be grateful for some kind of answers; it would be quite the   
   enlightening moment for me xD   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)