Generation and dynamics of optical beams with polarization singularities

Cardano, Filippo; Karimi, Ebrahim; Marrucci, Lorenzo; Lisio, C. de; Santamato, Enrico

doi:10.1364/oe.21.008815

Cited by 177 publications

(130 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

126

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Yet, the generation of beams bearing isolated C-points (i.e., alone in a light beam) has been limited to these two cases [19][20][21]. The larger class of asymmetric C-points containing orientations evolving nonlinearly have been produced only in speckle patterns [6][7][8][9], or as C-point pairs (dipoles) in tailored beams [22].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Generation of isolated asymmetric umbilics in light's polarization

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Polarization-singularity C-points, a form of line singularities, are the vectorial counterparts of the optical vortices of spatial modes and fundamental optical features of polarization-spatial modes. Their generation in tailored beams has been limited to lemon and star C-points that contain symmetric dislocations in state-of-polarization patterns. In this article we present the theory and laboratory measurements of two complementary methods to generate isolated asymmetric C-points in tailored beams, of which symmetric lemons and stars are limiting cases; and we report on the generation of monstars, an asymmetric C-point with characteristics of both lemons and stars. So far, the study of line singularities relies on the diagnosis of natural occurrences. Non-separable superpositions of polarization and spatial mode of light can provide a vehicle for deliberately creating line-singularity patterns for their study. This polarization-spatial-mode hybridization also adds a new dimension to imaging, where polarization provides additional sensing information [10,11]. Different species exploit polarization-spatial combinations for their survival [12], and line singularities may provide the means to characterize them. At the quantum level, these hybrid modes provide larger Hilbert spaces for encoding information [13]. An investigation of polarization-spatial light modes is also essential for understanding this type of imaging at a deeper level [14].C-points are the umbilical points of the line singularities in the polarization of light because they connect the apex of two opposite cones (a diabolo): of semi-major and semi-minor axis lengths [2,15]. They consist of a state of circular polarization surrounded by a field of polarization ellipses in the optical field, with orientations that rotate about the C-point [16]. C-points are singular points of ellipse orientation. They are intimately linked to the optical vortices of scalar fields, but encode the optical dislocations in the state of polarization instead of the phase [17]. The production of the full spectrum of C-points is of interest in its own right, as it reveals a new domain of complex light not investigated before. The production and analysis of C-points are the basis for new techniques to produce and diagnose optical vortices, which are of interest in metrology due to their high sensitivity to perturbations [18].The two symmetric types of C-point singularities, known as lemons and stars, correspond to dislocations where the ellipse orientation varies linearly with and counter to the angle about the singularity, respectively. Yet, the generation of beams bearing isolated C-points (i.e., alone in a light beam) has been limited to these two cases [19][20][21]. The larger class of asymmetric C-points containing orientations evolving nonlinearly have been produced only in speckle patterns [6][7][8][9], or as C-point pairs (dipoles) in tailored beams [22].The two symmetric cases are the ends of a spectrum of C-points where the pattern of orientations in the ellipse f...

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Generation of isolated asymmetric umbilics in light's polarization

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Many papers acquired good experimental results [13][14][15][16] without eliminating the mismatches caused by the measuring system. But we noticed that most of these successful experiments were measuring the polarization state of fields with sparse PSs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While phase singularities (wave dislocated, or optical vortices) are frequently encountered in interference of scalar waves [2,3], they resolve into polarization singularities (PSs) when the vector nature of light is retained [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. A large number of papers have studied polarized properties of vector fields [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Calibration of Measurement of Multiple Polarization Singularities

Xin

Zhao

et al. 2015

Journal of the Optical Society of Korea

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this paper, we propose a method used to measure the polarization state of a field with multiple polarization singularities (PSs), such as an array of PSs and PSs in vector speckle. A checkerboard is used to construct characteristic points, which makes it possible to calibrate the mismatches between pictures obtained during the rotation of a quarter-wave plate and a polarizer. Using this method a field with an array of PSs is measured. The experimental result is compared with the numerical simulation. We also carry out some data analysis. The comparison and analysis emphasize the necessity and feasibility of this method to measure the PSs.

show abstract

“…Poincare beams have been generated by direct superposition in either free space 1 or in optical fibers; 2 or by passage through either a subwavelength diffractive optical element, 3 a liquid-crystal birefringent optical element (socalled q-plate), 4 or a stress-birefringent optical element. 5 The use of these beams has enabled fundamental studies of polarization singularities, 6,7 and in the encoding of quantum information onto single photons. [8][9][10][11] The advantage of superposition methods stems from the freedom to encode any desired mode via electronic diffractive elements, such as spatial light modulators (SLM).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preparation of Poincaré beams with a same-path polarization/spatial-mode interferometer

Khajavi

Galvez

2015

Opt. Eng

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We present a same-path polarization interferometer that uses two spatial light modulators to encode the most general type of Poincaré beam. We demonstrate this design by presenting new results on the encoding of symmetric C-point polarization singularities using spatial modes with high-order topological charges. We also present new results on composite C-points. These are cases where there are multiple C-points in a single beam obtained by combining two modes with composite optical vortices in orthogonal states of polarization. The measurements show good agreement with the simulations.

show abstract

Generation and dynamics of optical beams with polarization singularities

Cited by 177 publications

References 25 publications

Generation of isolated asymmetric umbilics in light's polarization

Generation of isolated asymmetric umbilics in light's polarization

Calibration of Measurement of Multiple Polarization Singularities

Preparation of Poincaré beams with a same-path polarization/spatial-mode interferometer

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About