Effect of complex phase plate on tight focusing of azimuthally polarized double ring shaped beam

Based on the vector diffraction theory, the effect of complex phase plate on the intensity distribution of TEM₁₁ mode azimuthally polarized Laguerre–Gaussian beam in the focal region of high NA lens is investigated theoretically. It is observed that a properly designed complex phase plate can generate a subwavelength focal hole having FWHM of 0.332λ with an extended focal depth of 54.4λ. We also observe that by using properly designed complex phase plate generates novel focal patterns including splitting of focal holes and multi focus are obtained. The author expects such investigation is worthwhile for optical manipulation and material processing technologies.     

Generation of sub wavelength focal spot with large depth of focus generated by radially polarized beam

We investigate the focusing properties of a radially polarized Bessel Gaussian beam by a high numerical aperture (NA) lens based on vector diffraction theory. We observe that our proposed system generates a sub wavelength focal spot of 0.42λ having large uniform focal depth of 6.45λ. The authors expect such a long depth of focus have great potential for use in optical, biological, high-resolution and atmospheric sciences.     

Study on polarization effect of azimuthally polarized LG beam in high NA Lens system

Based on vector diffraction theory, the intensity distributions of azimuthally polarized double-ring-shaped higher order beams near the focus are calculated numerically. It is shown that a subwavelength focal hole with a quite long depth of focus, multiple focal holes are achieved near the focus, when tuning β (is the ratio of the pupil radius to the beam waist) in the focal plane for different modes under tight focusing through high NA lens. Such kind of beams plays an important role in optical trapping, laser cutting and optical manipulation applications.     

Tight focus of an azimuthally polarized and amplitude-modulated annular multi-Gaussian beam

We investigate the focusing properties of an azimuthally polarized and amplitude modulated annular multi Gaussian beam by a high numerical aperture (NA) lens based on vector diffraction theory. We observe that our proposed system generates a subwavelength focal hole of 0.46λ having large uniform focal depth of 36λ without any annular obstruction. This kind of nondiffracting focal hole is called dark channel, which may have applications in atom optical experiments, such as with atomic lenses, atom traps, and atom switches.     

Generation of multiple sub wavelength focal spot segments using radially polarized Bessel Gaussian beam with complex phase filter

We propose a new approach for generating multiple focal spot segment of sub wavelength size, by tight focusing of phase modulated radially polarized Bessel Gaussian beam. The focusing properties are investigated theoretically by vector diffraction theory. We observed that focal segment with multiple focal spots structure separated with different axial distance can be generated by properly tuning the phase of the incident radially polarized Bessel Gaussian (BG) beam. Potential applications of this focal shaping technique are also discussed.     

Concentric piecewise azimuthally polarized beam by a pure phase plate

Focusing properties of the azimuthally polarized beam induced by a pure phase plate are investigated theoretically. The pure phase plate consists of two concentric portions, one center circle portion and one outer annular portion, through which the azimuthally polarized beam passed evolves into concentric piecewise azimuthally polarized beam. When the phase shift of the center portion is π, one ring focus may evolve into novel focal patterns with increasing radius of the center circle portion, such as cylindrical crust focus, two-ring focus, and three-ring focus. And if the geometrical parameters are unchanged, focal patterns also changes considerably with tunable phase of the center portion. Ring focus shifts along the optical axis on the increasing phase. Some optical gradient force distributions and dependence of focal shift on phase shift are also illustrated. This kind of concentric piecewise azimuthally polarized beam can be used in optical manipulation technology.     

Tight focusing of phase modulated radially polarized hollow Gaussian beam using complex phase filter

We propose a new approach for generating multiple focal spot segment of sub wavelength size, by tight focusing of phase modulated radially polarized hollow Gaussian beam. The focusing properties are investigated theoretically by vector diffraction theory. We observed that focal segment with multiple focal spots structure separated with different axial distance can be generated by properly tuning the phase of the incident radially polarized hollow Gaussian (HGB) beam. Potential applications of this focal shaping technique are also discussed.     

Focal shifting of transversely polarized beam using cosine phase plate

Focal shift of transversely polarized beams induced by cosine phase masks are investigated theoretically by vector diffraction theory. Results show that when the transversely polarized beam with radial cosine wavefront phase is focused, the focal pattern differs considerably with frequency parameter in the cosine function term. Increasing the value of frequency parameter in the cosine part of the phase mask, focal shift may occur, simultaneously, the focal shift direction may change. Moreover, by altering frequency parameter or phase variation parameter of the phase mask will change the energy distributions of maximum intensity peak and other small intensity peaks. And novel focal patterns also evolve considerably, such as from only one peak to five of multiple peaks. The tunable focal shift can be used to construct controllable optical tweezers.     

双环角向偏振光束深聚焦特性

基于Richards-Wolf矢量衍射积分公式,研究了双环角向偏振光束经环状高数值孔径透镜的聚焦特性,推导了双环角向偏振光束经环状透镜深聚焦的光强表达式。根据数值模拟结果,比较了相关参量的变化对深聚焦特性的影响。研究表明:入射光束经环状高数值孔径透镜聚焦后,在焦平面得到了具有广泛应用的亚波长空心光斑,并且入射光束的相关参数和聚焦透镜的数值孔径大小都会影响光束的聚焦特性,使聚焦空心光斑达到亚波长量级;双环角向偏振光束经环状高数值孔径透镜的聚焦以后,在焦平面附近产生了一个更长的焦深（约28倍入射光波长）。     

双环角向偏振光束深聚焦特性

基于Richards-Wolf矢量衍射积分公式,研究了双环角向偏振光束经环状高数值孔径透镜的聚焦特性,推导了双环角向偏振光束经环状透镜深聚焦的光强表达式。根据数值模拟结果,比较了相关参量的变化对深聚焦特性的影响。研究表明:入射光束经环状高数值孔径透镜聚焦后,在焦平面得到了具有广泛应用的亚波长空心光斑,并且入射光束的相关参数和聚焦透镜的数值孔径大小都会影响光束的聚焦特性,使聚焦空心光斑达到亚波长量级;双环角向偏振光束经环状高数值孔径透镜的聚焦以后,在焦平面附近产生了一个更长的焦深（约28倍入射光波长）。     

Theoretical study of optical recording with a solid immersion lens illuminated by focused double-ring-shaped radially-polarized beam

Based on the Richards–Wolf vector diffraction theory, the intensity distributions in the recording sample near a solid immersion lens are calculated for two different radially-polarized beams ( and modes). Numerical results show that a double-ring-shaped mode focusing has some excellent features in near-field optical storage, compared with a single-ring-shaped mode focusing. The recording density is markedly improved, the focal depth of the near-field recording system is substantially increased, and a subsurface recording is effectively obtained using the mode focusing.     

Generating and shifting a spherical focal spot in a 4Pi focusing system illuminated by azimuthally polarized beams

We aim to theoretically investigate the focusing property of a 4Pi configuration under the illumination of azimuthally polarized high-order Bessel–Gaussian beams. The radial component is produced in the focal region through the introduction of a spiral phase plate. The focal region differs from the zero radial intensity component of the azimuthally polarized beams without the spiral phase plate. The spherical focal spot is generated by selecting an appropriate annular obstruction. The position of the focal spot can be shifted.     

Focal shift of radially polarized axisymmetric Bessel modulated Gaussian beam with radial variance phase plate

Focal shift of the radially polarized axisymmetric QBG beam with radial variance phase plate is investigated theoretically by vector diffraction theory. Axisymmetric Bessel modulated Gaussian beam with quadratic radial dependence (QBG beam) has attracted much attention recently. Calculation results show that focus shifts considerably by changing the phase parameter C that indicates the radial phase variance speed. Under condition of beam parameter μ of radially polarized axisymmetric QBG beam, there is one focal spot that shifts far away from optical aperture on increasing C. When increases the value of beam parameter, there may occur two focal peaks that also shift remarkably on increasing C.     

Effect of spherical aberration on tightly focused cylindrically polarized vortex beams

In this paper attention is given to the effects of primary spherical aberration on the cylindrical polarized vortex beam based on the vector diffraction theory. It is observed that by properly choosing the polarization angle and topological charge one can obtain many novel focal patterns suitable for optical tweezers, laser printing and material process. However, it is observed that the focusing objective with spherical aberration generates structural modification and positional shift of the generated focal structure.     

Phase filter design for sharper focus of radially polarized beam

Based on vector diffraction theory, a phase-only filter with cosine function is proposed and a sharper focal spot of radially polarized beam is obtained on the focal plane. The function parameters of the filter are optimized and a series of optimized filters for different Strehl ratio S are given. The optimization results show that there is a significant improvement on obtaining sharper focal spot with this new type of filter. Compared with other results, this type of filters has superior supperresolution effect and higher energy utilization ratio. The numerical calculation results about the phase filter may facilitate new approaches to get superresolution.     

Focus shaping of tightly focused TEM11 mode cylindrically polarized Laguerre Gaussian beam by diffractive optical element

We study the focus shaping of tightly focused TEM₁₁ mode cylindrically polarized Laguerre Gaussian beam with high numerical aperture lens axicon system is investigated theoretically by vector diffraction theory. The intensity pattern at the focus can be tailored by appropriately adjusting the rotation angle. We show that the high NA lens axicon system can generates a sub wavelength focal spot, focal hole, focal splitting and flat-topped focal shapes with extended depth of focus.     

Effect of spherical aberrations in tight focusing of higher order radially polarized beam

The effect of spherical aberration, in higher order radially polarized beam, is investigated theoretically by vector diffraction theory. It is observed that an increase in aberration results in the spreading of the intensity distribution, positional shift and the size of the generated focal pattern.     

Radially polarized hollow Gaussian beam with on-axis spiral optical vortex

The focusing properties of radially polarized hollow Gaussian beam (HGB) with on-axis spiral optical vortex are investigated theoretically by vector diffraction theory. The phase wavefront of HGB is the function of radial coordinate. Calculation results show that the focusing properties can be altered considerably by beam order of HGB, topological charge of the on-axis optical vortex, and phase parameter that characterizes the radial phase wavefront distribution. Higher topological charge induces focal evolution from one focal spot to annular focal pattern in transverse direction, while phase parameter can lead to focal shift along optical axis remarkably. In addition, focal shift direction can also be adjusted by changing varying direction of phase parameter.     

Focusing properties of Gaussian beam by a nonspiral phase plate system

In this article, a nonspiral plate is investigated numerically by vector diffraction theory to observe the focusing properties of Gaussian beams. Both low- and high-numerical-aperture (NA) optical systems are considered in the investigation. It is found that the parameter of NA and the phase vary rate of the phase plate influence the focal intensity distribution considerably. When a nonspiral plate is used to provide linear phase variation on one half of the Gaussian beam, it may adjust the focal spot considerably and conveniently. Changing the vary rate of the phase plate or the parameter of NA can alter optical intensity distribution; some novel focal spots and focal switch may also occur.