Generation and analysis of Vector Beams, a new generation of singular laser beams

• Applicant: Dr. Florian Flossmann
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2006 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 35634973

• Final Report Year: 2008

Final Report Abstract

The research project was originally planned to concentrate on the generation and analysis of a family of generalized vector beams, linearly polarized laser beams whose transversal field distribution exhibit a spatial dependency of the direction of polarization, and the extension of the concept to beams of not only linear, but arbitrary polarization, yet still with the same spatial distribution of the main direction of the polarization ellipses. Those generalized beams would then contain real generic polarization singularities, namely different types of C points (points of pure circular polarization). After the construction of a high speed real time polarization camera it was planned to generate these beams with three different methods (conical refraction, controlled stress birefringence and spatial light modulators) and to classify the beams in matters of their singular character.

Publications

• Fractality of light’s darkness. Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 053902 (2008)
  Kevin O’Holleran, Mark R. Dennis, Florian Flossmann, and Miles J. Padgett