Open AccessFocusing of high numerical aperture cylindrical-vector beams
Author(s) -
Kathleen S. Youngworth,
Thomas G. Brown
Publication year - 2000
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.7.000077
Subject(s) - optics , physics , polarization (electrochemistry) , numerical aperture , transverse plane , resonator , radial polarization , beam (structure) , lens (geology) , aperture (computer memory) , laser , laser beams , laser beam quality , acoustics , engineering , wavelength , chemistry , structural engineering
Cylindrical-vector beams are of increasing recent interest for their role in novel laser resonators and their applications to electron acceleration and scanning microscopy. In this paper, we calculate cylindrical-vector fields, near the focal region of an aplanatic lens, and briefly discuss some applications. We show that, in the particular case of a tightly focused, radially polarized beam, the polarization shows large inhomogeneities in the focal region, while the azimuthally polarized beam is purely transverse even at very high numerical apertures.