Polar Policryps diffractive structures generate cylindrical vector beams

Date
2015
Authors
Alj, D.
Paladugu, S.
Volpe, G.
Caputo, R.
Umeton, C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Institute of Physics Inc.
Abstract

Local shaping of the polarization state of a light beam is appealing for a number of applications. This can be achieved by employing devices containing birefringent materials. In this article, we present one such enables converting a uniformly circularly polarized beam into a cylindrical vector beam (CVB). This device has been fabricated by exploiting the POLICRYPS (POlymer-LIquid CRYstals-Polymer-Slices) photocuring technique. It is a liquid-crystal-based optical diffraction grating featuring polar symmetry of the director alignment. We have characterized the resulting CVB profile and polarization for the cases of left and right circularly polarized incoming beams.

Description
Keywords
Birefringence, Circular polarization, Liquid crystal polymers, Liquid crystals, Polarization, Birefringent materials, Circularly polarized beam, Cylindrical vector beam, Diffractive structures, Optical diffraction gratings, Photocuring technique, Polymer liquid crystals, Right circularly polarized, Crystal symmetry
Citation