Coherence-induced polarization effects in vector vortex beams

Abstract

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally coherence-induced polarization changes in generic and higher-order vector vortex beams with polarization singularity. The prominent depolarization on decreasing transverse correlation-width in focused partially coherent vector vortex beam provides a means to shape the intensity profile and the degree of polarization (DOP) while preserving the polarization distribution. The intensity variation and DOP-dip are found to be dependent on the polarization singularity index of the beam. Our results may provide an additional degree of freedom in the myriad of applications presently projected with various types of vector vortex beams.

Abnormally autofocusing vortex Swallowtail Gaussian vector beam with low spatial coherence

“…Next, to study the relationship between the coherence and the DOP, the line graphs in figure 4 display the simulation results for the two cases (δ = 1.5 mm and 3 mm) about the distributions (cross line, y = 0) of the DOP for the PCAPCVSGBs with different topological charges at the focal plane. From figures 4(a) and (b), we can find that the transverse DOP of the PCAPCVSGBs increases with increasing the coherent width under the condition of the same topological charge, and this phenomenon in agreement with the previous results, is called the coherence-induced polarization effects [2]. Comparing the black curves, we find that, the waist width of the DOP distribution decreases, and the value of the DOP on the optical axis r = 0 increases with the increase of the coherent width.…”

“…Coherence and polarization, the basic characteristics of any structured optical field, were considered to be independent until Wolf developed a unified theory of coherence and polarization [1]. This theory has aroused scholars' enthusiasm for studying the interaction between coherence and polarization [2], and studying the statistical properties-namely, the average intensity, degree of polarization (DOP), and degree of coherence (DOC)-of the structured optical field during propagation [3]. Besides, the vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum and phase singularity, have attracted great attention in the past decades due to their wide applications in optical communication [4][5][6].…”

Depolarization of Vector Light Beams on Propagation in Free Space

“…Analysis of the propagation of partially polarized and partially coherent beams is important for elucidating the physical mechanisms of depolarization. Future research will be related to polarization effects of partially coherent vector vortex beams [80][81][82][83][84]. Of particular interest is the study of the effects of non-paraxiality in the propagation of focused vector beams [85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98], of evanescent waves [99,100] and the effects of coherence and polarization of pulsed beams [101].…”

Nonparaxial Propagation of Bessel Correlated Vortex Beams in Free Space

“…The extension of coherence from the scalar to the vector domain can be formulated using generalized two-point Stokes parameters [ 65 ]. It is of fundamental and practical interest for studying the coherence-induced polarization effects in free space [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 ].…”