Generation of V-point polarization singularity using single phase encoding with a spatial light modulator

Abstract

A liquid crystal spatial light modulator (SLM) can be used in various ways to produce vector vortices. Superposition of scalar vortices with orthogonal polarization is a common approach, while a more recent technique is to use dual-phase modulation. These approaches require modulation of at least two phase patterns with a SLM or multiple SLMs. In this paper, we propose a novel technique to produce vector-vortices by modulating orthogonal light components through a single phase pattern with a SLM. It does not require interferometric setups, and simplifies the generation of light beams with V-point polarization singularities. Because of compact and robustness of our experimental setup, it can be easily integrated to any device for applications of vector vortices.