Optical vortices generation using the Wollaston prism

Abstract

A new setup of interferometers is proposed in which the set of specific optical markers--optical vortices--could be generated. The classical Mach-Zender two-beam interferometer has been modernized using the Wollaston prism. In this setup, the optical vortices could be obtained for a wide range of both beam parameters. The numerical analysis and experiments confirm our theoretical predictions.

Interferometry with Vortices

“…Here we want to focus our attention on metrological aspects of vortex lattice in interference fields [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]. Our first goal is to show specific basic properties of the vortex lattice formed by the interference of three-plane waves [34,35].…”

“…Promising versions of the OVI are compact setups using one [44,45] or two Wollaston prisms (one-way OVI) [46]. They support a limited access to the interfering waves but are smaller and more stable.…”

Three-wave electron vortex lattices for measuring nanofields

“…The phenomenon of vortex lattice generation from the interference of three, or more, coherent, non-coplanar plane waves has been studied extensively [7][8][9][10][11]. In light optics, plane waves possessing the required coherence are usually generated experimentally by amplitude division of laser light in an interferometer [6,8,12,13], though vortex lattice generation by wavefront division has also been analyzed [14] and demonstrated experimentally [15].…”

Generation of Optical Vortex Arrays Using Single-Element Reversed-Wavefront Folding Interferometer

“…Various optical interferometric configurations have been implemented for generating vortex lattices. Generation of OVAs by three-, four-and five-plane wave interference [17], interferometric optical vortex array generator [18,19], creation of OV lattices by wavefront division [20], using couple of Wollaston prisms [21,22], and lateral shearing interferometers [23] have been reported. Such periodic arrays of optical vortices have been used as phase markers [22], in optical metrology for the measurements of small-angular rotations, tilt, orientation [24][25][26], and birefringence [27].…”

“…The system can generate multiple wavefronts, interferograms, and one can change the orientation, structure, and spatial carrier frequency of OVAs by means of changing the angle of the CBS. The first interferometric configuration as shown in Figure 1(a) requires less vibration isolation table in comparison to second interferometric configuration (Figure 1(b)) and precise control, adjustment, and alignment of multiple optical components which are an essential requirement in the existing systems for generating OVAs [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27].…”