Open AccessAbruptly autofocusing vortex beams
Author(s) -
Jeffrey A. Davis,
Don M. Cottrell,
David J. Sand
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.013302
Subject(s) - optics , focus (optics) , physics , optical vortex , numerical aperture , vortex , lens (geology) , beam (structure) , phase (matter) , light beam , focal length , aperture (computer memory) , fourier transform , apodization , wavelength , acoustics , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
We generate abruptly autofocusing beams that produce vortices at the focus. We give explicit equations for the phase-only Fourier masks that generate these beams including explanations for controlling the focal distance and numerical aperture. We show experimental results for the focal distance, the vortex pattern and show that the diameter of the focused beam can be made smaller than the size of a comparable Airy beam from a lens. Finally we show how to move the focus spot in three dimensions by encoding additional optical elements onto the phase pattern.