Achromatic waveplate is similar to Zero-order waveplate except that the two plates are made from different materials, such as crystal quartz and magnesium fluoride. Since the dispersion of the birefringence can be different for the two materials, it is possible to specify the retardation values at a wavelength range. Hence, the retardation of the resulting waveplate can be made to low sensitivity to wavelength change.

Polarization roators offer 45deg or 90deg rotation at a number of common laser wavelengths. The optical axis in a polarization rotator is perpendicular to the polished face of the optic. The result is that the orientation of in put linearly polarized light is rotated as it propagates through the device.