Related papers: Creating Complex Optical Longitudinal Polarization…
Vector beams are often regarded as non-separable superpositions of spatial and polarization degrees of freedom that satisfy the wave equation. This interpretation ties their polarization structure to their spatial shape. Here, we introduce…
Structured light plays an important role in metrology, optical trapping and manipulation, communications, quantum technologies, nonlinear optics and provides a rich playground for addressing new optical phenomena. Here we demonstrate a…
Vector optical vortices exhibit complex polarisation patterns due to the interplay between spin and orbital angular momenta. Here we demonstrate, both analytically and with simulations, that certain polarisation features of optical vortex…
We propose a new method to generate optical needles by focusing vector beams comprised of radially polarized component and azimuthally polarized vortex components. The radial part can generate longitudinal polarization, while the azimuthal…
Increasing the complexity of a light field through the advanced manipulation of its degrees of freedom (DoF) provides new opportunities for fundamental studies and technologies. Correlating polarization with the light's spatial or spectral…
This paper presents intuitive interpretations of tightly focused beams of light by drawing analogies to two-dimensional electrostatics, magnetostatics and fluid dynamics. We use a Helmholtz decomposition of the transverse polarization…
Structured light is attracting significant attention for its diverse applications in both classical and quantum optics. The so-called vector vortex beams display peculiar properties in both contexts due to the non-trivial correlations…
Structured light beams with space-variant polarization can be efficiently generated using voltage-tunable nematic liquid-crystal (Q-plate). By appropriately selecting the input state and the retardation of the Q-plate, an optical field…
We propose an approach for deriving a broad class of propagation models for inhomogeneously, linearly polarized ``vector'' beams. Our formulation leverages a complex scalar potential along with an appropriately constructed Lagrangian energy…
We demonstrate a method to create potential barriers with polarized light beams for polaritons in semiconductor microcavities. The form of the barriers is engineered via the real space shape of a focalised beam on the sample. Their height…
In this paper we present a theoretical method, together with its experimental confirmation, to obtain structures of light by connecting diffraction-resistant cylindrical beams of finite lengths and different radii. The resulting…
It has recently been established that a linearly-polarized optical vortex possesses spin angular momentum density in the direction of propagation (longitudinal spin) under tight-focusing. The helicity of light has long been associated with…
We show how both the ellipticity $\eta$ and degree of polarization $\textit{P}$ influences the extraordinary optical chirality properties of non-paraxial vortex beams. We find that, in stark contrast to paraxial optics and non-vortex modes,…
Optical vortices generically arise when optical beams are combined. Recently, we reported how several laser beams containing optical vortices could be combined to form optical vortex loops, links and knots embedded in a light beam (Leach et…
We propose an approach to use linearly polarized light to imprint superconducting vortices. Within the framework of the generalized time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations we demonstrate the induction of the coherent vortex pairs that are…
Vortices are topologically stable singularities at the center of a swirl of energy. Optical vortices are conventionally formed using diffractive optics or by bespoke optical elements. We report room temperature integrated lasers directly…
We construct optical beams in free space with robust skyrmionic structures in their polarization fields, both in the electric spin vector for near-circular fields and in the polarization direction for near-linear fields, and for both Bloch…
Longitudinal electromagnetic fields generally become comparable with the usually dominant transverse components in strongly-focussed, non-paraxial beams. For optical vortex modes it is highlighted here how their angular momentum properties…
We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally coherence-induced polarization changes in generic and higher-order vector vortex beams with polarization singularity. The prominent depolarization on decreasing transverse correlation-width in…
We present a convenient method to generate vector beams of light having polarization singularities on their axis, via partial spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion in a suitably patterned liquid crystal cell. The resulting…