{"product_id":"olympus-u-cwe2-quartz-wedge-1-4-lambda","title":"Olympus U-CWE2 Quartz Wedge 1-4 Lambda","description":"\u003cp style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI Emoji', sans-serif;\"\u003e🔬 \u003cstrong\u003eOlympus U-CWE2 quartz wedge compensator — 1–4λ (4-order)\u003c\/strong\u003e for polarized light microscopy on Olympus BX and CX series microscopes\u003cbr\u003e⚡ \u003cstrong\u003e1–4λ retardation range\u003c\/strong\u003e — 4-order quartz wedge for measuring and compensating birefringence retardation from 1 to 4 full wavelengths\u003cbr\u003e🎯 \u003cstrong\u003eFits U-TAD and U-PA slots\u003c\/strong\u003e — installs in the U-TAD accessory slot or U-PA polarizing intermediate piece on BX and CX series\u003cbr\u003e🏭 \u003cstrong\u003eMade in Japan\u003c\/strong\u003e by Olympus — guaranteed OEM optical precision and calibration\u003cbr\u003e✅ \u003cstrong\u003eSKU U-CWE2 \/ Cat. U-P546\u003c\/strong\u003e — excellent, as-new condition, significant savings vs. list price of $1,625\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI Emoji', sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🔧 Product Description\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Olympus U-CWE2 is a 4-order quartz wedge compensator with a retardation range of 1–4λ (one to four full wavelengths), designed for quantitative birefringence measurement and compensation in polarized light microscopy on Olympus BX and CX series microscopes. A quartz wedge compensator is a graduated optical element — as the wedge is translated across the optical path, the retardation it introduces increases continuously from one end to the other. By inserting the quartz wedge into the optical path between crossed polarizers and translating it until the specimen’s birefringence is compensated (extinction restored), the operator can read the specimen’s retardation directly from the wedge scale. The 4-order (1–4λ) range of the U-CWE2 makes it suitable for specimens with moderate to high birefringence — complementing lower-order compensators (such as the λ\/4 and λ plates) used for weakly birefringent specimens. The U-CWE2 installs in the U-TAD accessory slot or the U-PA polarizing intermediate piece on BX and CX series microscopes. Built to Olympus factory specifications (catalog number U-P546). This unit is in excellent, as-new condition at a significant discount from the list price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI Emoji', sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e🔎 Typical Applications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQuantitative birefringence measurement — determining retardation values of moderately to highly birefringent specimens using the 1–4λ wedge scale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMineralogy and petrology — thin section analysis, retardation measurement, and mineral identification using the Michel-Lévy interference color chart\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePharmaceutical crystallography — birefringence characterization of crystalline drug substances and polymorphs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFiber and polymer analysis — retardation measurement of synthetic and natural fibers, films, and oriented polymers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAny BX or CX series polarized light application requiring a 4-order quartz wedge compensator in the U-TAD or U-PA slot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI Emoji', sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e📊 Key Specifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecification\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOlympus Part Number\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eU-CWE2 (U-P546)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eType\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eQuartz Wedge Compensator\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRetardation Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1–4λ (4-order)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCompatible Slots\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eU-TAD accessory slot, U-PA polarizing intermediate piece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCompatible Microscopes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOlympus BX and CX series\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCountry of Origin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJapan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHS Code\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e901190\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCondition\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExcellent — As New\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI Emoji', sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eUniversities and research institutions are welcome to purchase using an official purchase order. Please contact us to arrange PO-based ordering.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Spach Optics, Inc.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51695465529645,"sku":"U-CWE2","price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0933\/7965\/8029\/files\/OLYMPUS-U-CWE2-2.jpg?v=1765525905","url":"https:\/\/www.spachoptics.com\/products\/olympus-u-cwe2-quartz-wedge-1-4-lambda","provider":"Spach Optics, Inc.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}