Open AccessManipulation of the Pancharatnam phase in vectorial vortices
Author(s) -
Avi Niv,
Gabriel Biener,
Vladimir Kleiner,
Erez Hasman
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.14.004208
Subject(s) - physics , angular momentum , optical vortex , vortex , geometric phase , orbital angular momentum of light , optics , phase (matter) , polarization (electrochemistry) , angular momentum of light , orbital angular momentum multiplexing , classical mechanics , angular momentum coupling , total angular momentum quantum number , quantum mechanics , mechanics , chemistry
Linearly polarized vectorial vortices are analyzed according to their Pancharatnam phase and experimentally demonstrated using a geometric phase element consisting of space-variant subwavelength gratings. It is shown that in the absence of a Pancharatnam phase, stable vectorial vortices that have no angular momentum arise. In contrast, if a Pancharatnam phase is present the vectorial vortices have orbital angular momentum and collapse upon propagation.