Higher-order polarization singularitites in tailored vector beams

Higher-order polarization singularities embedded in tailored vector beams are introduced and experimentally realized. As holographic modulation allows to define order and location of any vectorial singularity, the surrounding vector field can be dynamically shaped. We demonstrate light fields associated with flowers or spider webs due to regular and even irregular patterns of the orientation of polarization ellipses. Beyond that, not yet investigated hybrid structures are introduced that allow generating networks of flowers and webs in very close vicinity. Our results pave the way to applications of singular optics in spatially extended, optimized optical tweezing and high-resolution imaging.

[1]  P. Kurzynowski,et al.  Regular lattices of polarization singularities: their generation and properties , 2010 .

[2]  Cornelia Denz,et al.  Elegant Gaussian beams for enhanced optical manipulation , 2015 .

[3]  Q. Zhan.  Cylindrical vector beams: from mathematical concepts to applications , 2009 .

[4]  Cornelia Denz,et al.  Advanced optical trapping by complex beam shaping , 2013 .

[5]  T G Brown,et al.  Polarization-vortex-driven second-harmonic generation. , 2003, Optics letters.

[6]  Tony Wilson,et al.  Method for the generation of arbitrary complex vector wave fronts. , 2002, Optics letters.

[7]  Nir Davidson,et al.  Generation of a hollow dark spherical spot by 4pi focusing of a radially polarized Laguerre-Gaussian beam. , 2006, Optics letters.

[8]  L. Marrucci,et al.  Polarization pattern of vector vortex beams generated by q-plates with different topological charges. , 2012, Applied optics.

[9]  Cornelia Denz,et al.  Complex light fields enter a new dimension: holographic modulation of polarization in addition to amplitude and phase , 2015, Photonics West - Optoelectronic Materials and Devices.

[10]  Shreeya Khadka,et al.  Poincaré-beam patterns produced by nonseparable superpositions of Laguerre-Gauss and polarization modes of light. , 2012, Applied optics.

[11]  I. Freund.  Polarization singularity anarchy in three dimensional ellipse fields , 2004 .

[12]  J. F. Nye,et al.  The wave structure of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation , 1987, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

[13]  I. Freund.  Polarization singularity indices in Gaussian laser beams , 2002 .

[14]  Jeffrey A. Davis,et al.  Encoding high-order cylindrically polarized light beams. , 2014, Applied optics.

[15]  G Leuchs,et al.  Sharper focus for a radially polarized light beam. , 2003, Physical review letters.

[16]  Edward Collett,et al.  Measuring the Stokes polarization parameters , 2007 .

[17]  Qiwen Zhan,et al.  Three-dimensional focus shaping with cylindrical vector beams , 2006 .

[18]  Dieter W. Pohl,et al.  Operation of a Ruby Laser in the Purely Transverse Electric Mode TE01 , 1972 .

[19]  T. Visser,et al.  Polarization singularities of focused, radially polarized fields. , 2006, Optics express.

[20]  Tomáš Čižmár,et al.  Shaping the future of manipulation , 2011 .

[21]  C. Denz,et al.  Dynamic modulation of Poincaré beams , 2017, Scientific Reports.

[22]  David L. Andrews,et al.  Structured Light and Its Applications: An Introduction to Phase-Structured Beams and Nanoscale Optical Forces , 2008 .

[23]  Kathleen S. Youngworth,et al.  Dark-field imaging with cylindrical-vector beams. , 2006, Applied optics.

[24]  Qiwen Zhan,et al.  Vectorial optical field generator for the creation of arbitrarily complex fields. , 2013, Optics express.

[25]  Paramasivam Senthilkumaran,et al.  Singular Optics , 2012 .

[26]  Nir Davidson,et al.  Toward a spherical spot distribution with 4pi focusing of radially polarized light. , 2004, Optics letters.

[27]  Alexander Jesacher,et al.  Tailoring of arbitrary optical vector beams , 2007 .

[28]  James R. Leger,et al.  Interferometric measurement of the geometric phase in space-variant polarization manipulations , 2002 .

[29]  I. Freund.  Ordinary polarization singularities in three-dimensional optical fields. , 2012, Optics Letters.

[30]  Luping Shi,et al.  Creation of a needle of longitudinally polarized light in vacuum using binary optics , 2008 .

[31]  Enrique J. Galvez,et al.  Light Beams with Spatially Variable Polarization , 2015 .

[32]  M. Berry,et al.  Dislocations in wave trains , 1974, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

[33]  Mark R. Dennis,et al.  Singular optics: optical vortices and polarization singularities , 2009 .

[34]  Amber M. Beckley,et al.  Full Poincaré beams. , 2010, Optics express.

[35]  Bahaa E. A. Saleh,et al.  Second- and third-harmonic generation with vector Gaussian beams , 2006 .

[36]  Steven H. Strogatz,et al.  Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos with Student Solutions Manual , 2016 .

[37]  Y. Kozawa,et al.  Polarization singularities in superposition of vector beams. , 2013, Optics express.

[38]  Qiwen Zhan,et al.  Microellipsometer with radial symmetry. , 2002, Applied optics.

[39]  Rajpal S. Sirohi,et al.  Single-slit diffraction of an optical beam with phase singularity , 2009 .

[40]  Q. Zhan,et al.  Focus shaping using cylindrical vector beams. , 2002, Optics express.

[41]  Y. Kivshar,et al.  Mapping phases of singular scalar light fields. , 2008, Optics letters.