Open AccessVersatile generation of optical vector fields and vector beams using a non-interferometric approach
Author(s) -
Santosh Kumar Tripathi,
Kimani C. Toussaint
Publication year - 2012
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.20.010788
Subject(s) - polarization (electrochemistry) , interferometry , physics , vector field , optics , vector potential , formalism (music) , direction vector , computer science , magnetic field , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , chemistry , mechanics , art , musical , visual arts
We present a versatile, non-interferometric method for generating vector fields and vector beams which can produce all the states of polarization represented on a higher-order Poincaré sphere. The versatility and non-interferometric nature of this method is expected to enable exploration of various exotic properties of vector fields and vector beams. To illustrate this, we study the propagation properties of some vector fields and find that, in general, propagation alters both their intensity and polarization distribution, and more interestingly, converts some vector fields into vector beams. In the article, we also suggest a modified Jones vector formalism to represent vector fields and vector beams.