Interference of circularly polarized light: contrast and application in fabrication of three-dimensional periodic microstructures

The contrast of interference pattern formed by two circularly polarized waves and by a linearly polarized wave and a circularly polarized one is discussed. The results are compared with that by two linear beams. It shows that the use of circular light in holographic fabrication of three-dimensional periodic microstructures may remove the necessity of beam ratio and polarization optimization needed in the interference of three linear noncoplanar beams and improve the uniform contrast of resultant pattern simultaneously.