What Meadowlark Optics does

Meadowlark Optics designs, develops, and manufactures precision polarization optics and components for scientific research, industrial laser, and biomedical imaging customers. Founded in 1979 by Tom Baur in Frederick, Colorado, the company has built a 45+ year specialization in liquid crystal devices and polarization control, beginning with custom Pockels cells and expanding into a broad product portfolio spanning spatial light modulators (SLMs), polarizers, waveplates, liquid crystal polarization gratings, polarization systems, and metrology services. Its core technology is proprietary Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) spatial light modulators with custom analog drive schemes that deliver phase ripple as low as 0.025%, refresh rates up to 1,400 Hz, and high-power handling capability (≥1 kW CW at 1070 nm in the Ultra-High Power model). The product line spans UV to MWIR wavelengths (220 nm-6 µm, with custom options to 15 µm), supported by accessory kits for microscopy, optical tweezing, and SLM system setup, plus a retardance measurement station (TB1000) for metrology services.

The company's business model combines direct sales through Solutions Engineers for custom and enterprise accounts with US e-commerce for standard catalog items, complemented by an international distributor network covering 11+ countries across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South Asia, and the Middle East. Pricing ranges from $623 for broadband beamsplitting cubes to $10,249 for MWIR polarizers, with SLMs priced by quote; OEM channels carry a 20-unit minimum order and multi-year contract cadence. Customer segments are horizontal and research-heavy, including quantum technology research, neuroscience and biophotonics, life sciences and optical tweezing, industrial laser applications, and astronomy/defense. The company does not disclose revenue but has invested in inorganic growth (acquired Boulder Nonlinear Systems in May 2023), product expansion (Ultra-High Power SLM launched April 2025, 1536x1536 SLM launched January 2026), and physical capacity (facility expansion completed in 2025). Leadership is founder-controlled and founder-led, with Tom Baur as Chairman, Garry Gorsuch as President & CEO, Dr. Doug McKnight as CTO, and Kelly Gregorak as SVP.

Name

Meadowlark Optics

Legal name

Meadowlark Optics

Website

https://meadowlark.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Meadowlark Optics designs and manufactures precision polarization optics, specializing in Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) spatial light modulators, polarizers, waveplates, and liquid crystal devices for research institutions, quantum technology developers, and industrial laser customers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Polarization Optics

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM)

Keywords

• Polarization optics
• Spatial light modulators
• Liquid crystal devices
• Waveplate retarders
• Wire grid polarizers

Headquarters

HQ city

Frederick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Standard Optical Component Sales: Sale of standard polarization optical components including spatial light modulators, polarizers, waveplates, liquid crystal devices, and metrology equipment. Products are available through e-commerce for US customers with pricing ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars per unit.
2. Custom Optical Solutions: Custom-designed polarization optics and components tailored to specific customer applications. The company has a history of providing custom solutions since 1979 when founder Tom Baur created custom Pockels cells for his own research needs.
3. Engineering and Metrology Services: World-class engineering services assisting with difficult polarization-related problems. Includes metrology services and fabrication capabilities.
4. Optical System Kits: Bundled optical systems including SLM Microscopy Kits, Optical Tweezing Kits, and SLM Optics Kits that combine multiple components for specific applications

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Meadowlark Optics designs, manufactures, and sells precision polarization optics and components including Liquid Crystal on Silicon Spatial Light Modulators, polarizers, waveplates, liquid crystal devices, liquid crystal polarization gratings, Pockels cells, polarimeters, and accessory kits. The portfolio is sold as standard catalog products through an online U.S. storefront and as custom-engineered solutions through direct Solutions Engineer support and a global distributor network, covering wavelengths from deep UV (220 nm) to mid-wave infrared (6 µm).

Product overview

Meadowlark Optics designs, develops, and manufactures precision polarization optics and components. The product portfolio centers on Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) Spatial Light Modulators (including 1024x1024, 1536x1536, and 1920x1200 models with high-speed, ultra-high-power, and kit variants) complemented by a comprehensive range of polarization control components including polarizers (wire grid, beamsplitting, Glan-Thompson, dichroic, and specialty UV/MWIR types), waveplates/retarders (achromatic, superachromatic, polymer film, large aperture), liquid crystal devices (variable retarders, rotators, shutters, attenuators, controllers), liquid crystal polarization gratings for beam steering, polarization systems (Pockels cells, polarimeters), and metrology/fabrication services. The company also offers accessory kits for microscopy and optical tweezing applications, and provides custom solutions for specialized requirements. In 2023, Meadowlark Optics acquired Boulder Nonlinear Systems to expand its optical science capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1024 x 1024 Spatial Light Modulator High-resolution Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) spatial light modulator with 1024 x 1024 pixel resolution, 1400 Hz refresh rate, high phase stability, and pure analog phase control for high diffraction efficiency and low phase ripple applications.
• 1024 x 1024 Spatial Light Modulator Ultra-High Power Water-cooled high-power LCoS spatial light modulator capable of handling ≥1 kW CW power at 1070 nm, with TEC active heat dissipation, sapphire coverglass, and dielectric mirrored backplane for industrial and high-power laser applications.
• 1536 x 1536 Spatial Light Modulator High-speed LCoS spatial light modulator combining 1536 x 1536 pixel count with high frame rates and efficient diffraction; supports up to 600 fps hologram-to-hologram operation (1000 fps available), on-board storage for up to 2,045 user-specified phase masks, and 6 µs trigger response latency.
• 1920 x 1200 Spatial Light Modulator Standard LCoS spatial light modulator with 1920 x 1200 resolution, available in E-Series (8-bit, HDMI controller) and S-Series (10-bit, liquid cooling option); features pure analog phase control with phase stability as low as 0.025%.
• Spatial Light Modulator 1-Photon Microscopy Kit Scan-less SLM-based epi-fluorescence upright microscope kit for single photon 3D calcium imaging and photostimulation; includes 1920 x 1200 SLM, hologram generator software, camera, fluorescence filter set, XYZ transition stage, and oblique condenser for neuroscience and biophotonics applications.
• Spatial Light Modulator Optical Tweezing Kit Complete 3D holographic optical tweezing platform using high-resolution 1920 x 1200 SLM, enabling precise manipulation of objects from 10 nm to 100 µm through holographic beam control with custom software for creating optical traps in life sciences and biophysics applications.
• Spatial Light Modulator Optics Kit Ready-to-use optical component kit for SLM setup including polarizers, waveplates, beam expander, lenses, tip/tilt stage, and base plate, allowing researchers to start SLM experiments immediately without designing an optical system.
• Beam Separator Laser line beam separator combining a true zero-order quarter-wave retarder with a laser line beamsplitting polarizer, converting P-polarization to circular polarization while reflecting S-polarization at 90 degrees, available in multiple sizes and wavelengths.
• Broadband Beamsplitting Polarizer Reflective polarizer cube for broadband or tunable wavelength sources covering visible to near-infrared regions, offering equal 50/50 split for unpolarized input and large acceptance angle.
• Deep (Ultraviolet) UV Polarizer Wire grid polarizer designed for wavelengths between 245 and 285 nm, featuring high damage threshold and transmission >60% with contrast ratio up to 50:1.
• MWIR Polarizer Wire grid polarizer on antireflection-coated silicon substrate optimized for 3 to 6 microns (3000-6000 nm), featuring excellent contrast ratio and custom apertures >2 inches available.
• Glan-Thompson Polarizer Calcite crystal polarizer with broad spectral range, excellent extinction ratio, wide field of view, and low wavefront distortion for precision optical instrumentation and low power laser applications.
• ICE Cube Wiregrid Polarizing Beamsplitter Meadowlark-exclusive wiregrid polarizing beam splitter cube optimized for wide range of acceptance angles, offering high contrast and transmission over visible wavelengths (400-700 nm).
• Versalight Wire Grid Polarizing Beamsplitter Wire grid polarizing beamsplitter providing high performance polarization separation with Versalight branding.
• Precision Linear Polarizer Dichroic sheet polarizer laminated between BK7 glass substrates providing high extinction ratios for ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths.
• High Contrast Linear Polarizer Absorptive dichroic glass polarizer providing very high contrast with high transmission, optimized for the near-infrared region.
• Ultra-High Contrast Polarizer High-performance linear polarizer delivering ultra-high contrast ratios for demanding polarization applications.
• Liquid Crystal Variable Retarder Tunable retardation device using nematic liquid crystal materials to electrically control polarization through applied voltage, usable from 450 to 1800 nm with computer control and temperature control options.
• High-Speed LCVR High-speed liquid crystal variable retarder achieving 10X speed improvement over standard LCVR with sub-millisecond speeds achieved without 50/50 duty cycle drive scheme.
• Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Controller Controller for ferroelectric liquid crystal devices featuring broadband performance, extremely fast switching speeds, silent vibration-free operation, and low-voltage operation.
• Analog Liquid Crystal Controller Stand-alone bench-top controller compatible with all standard Meadowlark Optics LC devices and other nematics, with convenient banana jacks for multimeter attachment and optional battery supply.
• Liquid Crystal Digital Interface Controller Next-generation digital interface with two channels of voltage and temperature sensing & control, USB-powered operation, and multiple external control options including LabVIEW code example.
• Liquid Crystal Polarization Rotator, Continuous Device that continuously rotates the polarization orientation of a monochromatic linearly polarized input beam through 180-degree polarization rotation with computer control capability.
• Binary Liquid Crystal Rotator Two-state optical rotator for rapidly switching between two orthogonal linear polarization states with high polarization purity, silent operation, and faster switching speeds than LCVRs.
• Ferroelectric Polarization Rotator, Binary Ferroelectric-based binary polarization rotator offering broadband performance and fast switching for polarization state manipulation.
• High Contrast Optical Shutter (LCD Shutter) Vibration-free alternative to mechanical shutters using liquid crystal technology for polarized light beams, with computer control capacity.
• Ferroelectric Optical Shutter Solid-state optical shutter based on ferroelectric liquid crystal technology offering the fastest optical response times available for shutter applications.
• Liquid Crystal Variable Attenuator Real-time continuous light intensity control device using LC variable retarder operating between crossed linear polarizers with high contrast ratio and computer control.
• OEM Liquid Crystal Variable Waveplate Small-form-factor LC variable retarder for space-constrained or OEM applications with minimum order of 20 units, precision control at lower cost, and thin housing.
• UV Liquid Crystal Variable Waveplate Liquid crystal variable retarder optimized for ultraviolet wavelengths for tunable polarization control in UV applications.
• Precision LCD Temperature Controller and Sensing Single-channel microprocessor-based temperature controller designed for Meadowlark Optics liquid crystal devices equipped with Temperature Sensing and Control (TSC) option.
• Liquid Crystal Polarization Gratings Lenses Liquid crystal polarization grating-based lenses with <40 µs fast direction switching, <3 ms slow direction, large apertures possible (>5 cm), and simple microscope integration.
• Passive Liquid Crystal Polarization Gratings Geometric phase gratings using spatially varying birefringence for polarization-sensitive diffraction, applied in thin polarized beamsplitters, beam steering, spectral imaging, and polarimetry.
• Beam Steering with Liquid Crystal Polarization Gratings Non-mechanical beam steering system using liquid crystal polarization gratings with random-access scanning, up to 80°×80° steering demonstrated, and high diffraction efficiency (>99%).
• Precision Achromatic Waveplate Achromatic retarder providing nearly constant retardance over broad wavelength regions for visible and near-infrared, featuring superior field of view and thermal stability.
• Precision Superachromatic Waveplate Broadest wavelength coverage waveplate in the product line, available for 420-1100 nm and 800-1700 nm ranges with high extinction ratios.
• Precision and Standard Waveplate (Retarder) True zero-order polymer retarders with excellent off-axis performance, unequaled measured accuracy, and lower temperature dependence than quartz waveplates.
• Bi-Crystalline Achromatic Waveplate Quarter-wave achromatic retarder combining crystalline quartz with other materials for superior IR performance, broad spectral performance, and UV models available.
• Large Aperture Waveplate Retarder with outer diameter up to 6 inches and clear aperture >90%, available in various materials including polymer, quartz, sapphire, magnesium fluoride and liquid crystal.
• Dual Wavelength Waveplate Retarder providing same retardance at two wavelengths separated by more than an achromatic retarder can span, or different retardances at two wavelengths.
• Polymer Film Waveplate Very thin profile retarder using proprietary polymer film for high retardance accuracy in a cost-effective product that can be provided in almost any configuration and quantity.
• Wide Field Waveplate Waveplate designed for wide field of view applications requiring consistent retardance across varying angles of incidence.
• Pockels Cells Modulator Optical device that alters polarization of light as electric field is applied, with large clear apertures (40 mm) and symmetric nanosecond switching times, suitable for imaging applications and LIDAR.
• Polarimeter (PMI-2000) Liquid Crystal Stokes Vector Polarimeter (PMI-2000) providing high accuracy and reliability in an easy-to-use compact instrument suitable for manufacturing and laboratory applications.
• Retardance Measurement Station (TB1000) Model TB1000 commercial product for high precision measurements of waveplates, featuring retardance measurements in under 2 seconds with one-click operation and highly repeatable results.
• Optical Windows Transparent components available in UV Fused Silica and N-BK7 for protecting optical systems or electronic sensors from outside environment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase ripple as low as 0.025% - the lowest commercially available
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• University of Colorado BoulderminorOthers · 6 February 2026Meadowlark Optics donated $70,000 to support CU's Quantum Scholars program, which provides scholarships and industry connections for students studying quantum technology at CU's Boulder campus.
• Boulder Nonlinear SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Meadowlark Optics acquired Boulder Nonlinear Systems in 2023, combining people, products, and services. The acquisition is intended to position the combined entity at the forefront of optical science, bringing together complementary technologies and expertise in polarization optics.
• CUbit (University of Colorado Boulder)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with CUbit, the University of Colorado Boulder's quantum technology incubator. The partnership continues to grow, supporting quantum technology development and providing industry connections for students.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Laser 2000: Laser 2000 is a European distributor and value-added supplier of photonics products (lasers, optics, components), and acts as Meadowlark's UK/Ireland distributor per the channel data. It is comparable as a supplier of polarization optics to European research customers, though it is a multi-brand channel rather than a direct competing manufacturer.

Direct peers

• Santec (formerly Santec AOC): Santec is a Japanese photonics company producing LCoS SLMs, tunable lasers and optical components for telecom and research applications. It directly overlaps with Meadowlark in LCoS SLM technology and competes in quantum and AR/VR display research markets.
• HOLOEYE Photonic Technologies: HOLOEYE is a German specialist in LCoS-based spatial light modulators and related SLM driver hardware/software, serving holography, optical tweezing and quantum research customers. It is the most direct competitor to Meadowlark's core SLM business, with comparable resolution offerings and overlapping application use cases.

Broad incumbents

• MKS Instruments (Newport): Newport/MKS offers precision optics, motion and laser components used in research and industrial photonics, including polarizers and waveplates. It is comparable to Meadowlark as a supplier of polarization optics to scientific and industrial customers but operates at a much larger scale across a broader product portfolio.
• Thorlabs: Thorlabs is a vertically integrated, broad-line photonics manufacturer offering a wide catalog of optical components, including polarizers, waveplates, liquid crystal devices and SLMs. It is a clear broad incumbent against which Meadowlark competes in the same polarization-optics categories, but Thorlabs also sells lasers, optomechanics and imaging systems far beyond Meadowlark's niche.
• Edmund Optics: Edmund Optics manufactures and distributes a broad catalog of optical components including polarizers, waveplates and filters, with strong global e-commerce. It overlaps with Meadowlark on standard polarization optics and competes on price and catalog breadth rather than specialty performance.
• Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu is a large Japanese optoelectronics manufacturer producing SLMs, LC devices, photodetectors and photonics components. It competes with Meadowlark at the high-end LCoS SLM and LC retarder level, particularly for quantum and biomedical research customers, while also serving much broader industrial markets.
• Jenoptik: Jenoptik is a German photonics group manufacturing optical components, laser systems and metrology, with overlap to Meadowlark's polarization and beam-shaping product categories. It competes especially in European markets where Meadowlark relies on distributor partners, while serving much wider industrial and semiconductor end-markets.

Emerging players

• Optogama: Optogama is a smaller, Lithuania-based manufacturer specializing in laser optics including waveplates, polarizers, and crystals for research and industrial laser use. It overlaps with Meadowlark on standard polarization components and competes on price in academic/industrial laser markets, though it does not match Meadowlark's SLM capabilities.

Others

• Boulder Nonlinear Systems: Boulder Nonlinear Systems is a photonics specialist in liquid crystal and spatial light modulator technology that was acquired by Meadowlark Optics in 2023. It is included as a peer because its technology and product line directly augmented Meadowlark's optical science capabilities and it remains an active brand under Meadowlark ownership.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mloptics
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeZd4uPHpxDdBWlu4ZkDzUA
• Facebookfacebook.com/120997077968841
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/83875

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Meadowlark Optics