Vector Beam Polarization State Spectrum Analyzer

Abstract

We present a proof of concept for a vector beam polarization state spectrum analyzer based on the combination of a polarization diffraction grating (PDG) and an encoded harmonic q-plate grating (QPG). As a result, a two-dimensional polarization diffraction grating is formed that generates six different q-plate channels with topological charges from −3 to +3 in the horizontal direction, and each is split in the vertical direction into the six polarization channels at the cardinal points of the corresponding higher-order Poincaré sphere. Consequently, 36 different channels are generated in parallel. This special polarization diffractive element is experimentally demonstrated using a single phase-only spatial light modulator in a reflective optical architecture. Finally, we show that this system can be used as a vector beam polarization state spectrum analyzer, where both the topological charge and the state of polarization of an input vector beam can be simultaneously determined in a single experiment. We expect that these results would be useful for applications in optical communications.

Formation of hybrid higher-order cylindrical vector beams using binary multi-sector phase plates

“…For other cases of CVBs, the z -component has cosine or sine dependence on the angle φ : for example, for a CVB with p = −1 and ϕ 0 = 0 E z ( ρ , φ , z ) ∝ cos(2 φ ) and for a CVB with p = −1 and ϕ 0 = π /2 E z ( ρ , φ , z ) ∝ sin(2 φ ) (see Figs 1 and 2 ). Such negative-order CVBs can be obtained by passing the positive-order CVB through a half waveplate 49 – 52 . In the case of negative-order CVBs, light field patterns generated after passing through a rotating linear polariser rotate in the direction opposite that of rotation in the case of positive-order CVBs 49 .…”

Recent Advances in Generation and Detection of Orbital Angular Momentum Optical Beams—A Review

“…For example, Figure 15 shows detecting results for the phase 13-channel filter, matched with integer and half-integer OVs [ 193 ]. Note, DOEs can be employed to recognize not only the singular phase state of structured light beams but also for detection polarization state [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 194 ]. However, MSs are more suitable for these purposes [ 195 , 196 , 197 , 198 , 199 , 200 ].…”

“…Also, the phase of optical vortices is utilized in the analysis of the laser field’s polarizing properties. For example, a single fork-shaped phase grating matched with first-order vortices for detecting radially and azimuthally polarized laser beams [ 4 ], and more complex multi-order optical elements matched with vortices of different orders, make it possible to uniquely determine various combinations of the cylindrical polarization state and the vortex phase of the laser beam [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Optical tweezers and spanners [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], non-diverging speckles [ 13 ], imagining and microscopy [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], novel sensing technologies for detecting molecules and nanostructures [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], and object motion detection [ 23 , 24 ] are only a few of the applications for optical vortices that have been proposed so far.…”

Combining average molecular tilt and flicker for management of depolarized light in parallel-aligned liquid crystal devices for broadband and wide-angle illumination

“…PA-LCoS can be found in many optics and photonics applications such as in diffractive optics [6], optical storage [7,8], optical metrology [9], reconfigurable interconnects [10,11], wavefront sensing of structured light beams [12], holographic optical traps [13], or quantum optical computing [14]. In recent years, a wide interest has arisen dealing with the generation and detection of unconventional polarization structured wavefronts [15,16] in which PA-LCoS devices play a central role [17,18].…”