Focusing of linearly-, and circularly polarized Gaussian background vortex beams by a high numerical aperture system afflicted with third-order astigmatism

Effects of third-order astigmatism on the focused structure of linearly and circularly polarized Laguerre-Gaussian beams have been investigated by using vectorial Debye-Wolf integral. The results have been presented for total intensity distribution and squares of the polarization components at the focal plane of a high numerical aperture system, for two values of the topological charge. Astigmatism results in the stretching of the intensity pattern as well as of the squares of the polarization components. A split is observed in the intensity pattern of a focused beam having double topological charge, and also in the pattern of the longitudinal polarization component of circularly polarized beam even with unit topological charge.     

Discrete diffraction for analytical approach to tightly focused electric fields with radial polarization

Radially polarized laser beams in high-resolution microscopy provide an effective means to reduce the focus size below the diffraction limit. Unfortunately, their theoretical manipulation is usually limited to numerical methods. Here, we demonstrate an approach that leads to analytical expressions for the focused electric fields. The approach is based on the discretization of the continuous character of diffraction taking place at the microscope focus. Comparisons with fully numerical calculation are discussed. It results that the new approach accurately reflects the distribution of light within the focal volume with relative deviations that are between 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻¹³.     

Focusing of a vortex carrying beam with Gaussian background by an apertured system in presence of coma

In this paper, diffraction pattern of a vortex carrying beam with a Gaussian background has been studied by using Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction integral, in the presence of third-order coma. Results of intensity distribution and encircled energy at the Gaussian plane have been presented for two values of the topological charge. Positional shift and splitting of the dark core have been investigated in detail. It is noticed that the diffraction pattern of a beam with double topological charge is affected more by comatic aberration in comparison to the beam with single topological charge. We have also verified our results by using the optical transfer function approach. Propagation of an apertured Gaussian background vortex beam through a π-phase shifter has also been studied for two values of the topological charge.     

Effect of coma on the focusing of an apertured singular beam

Effect of coma on the intensity distribution and encircled energy of a singular beam, at the focal plane of a lens, is evaluated numerically by using Fresnel–Kirchhoff diffraction integral for two different values of topological charge. Results show lateral shift and flattening of the dark core. It is noticed that the singular beam with double topological charge is affected more by comatic aberration in comparison to the beam with single topological charge. We also verified our results by using optical transfer function approach.     

Making an optical vortex and its copies using a single spatial light modulator

We demonstrate a technique for making copies of optical vortices with the same topological charge using a single spatial light modulator. It has been shown that by using suitable diffractive optical elements, several copies of optical vortices with the same topological charge could be created. We have devised diffractive optical elements using a single spatial light modulator which could be used to make a vortex and its copies without inverting the charge. The nature of the topological charge was investigated with the interferometric technique. The experimental results are verified with the theoretical analysis. We anticipate that our results may find applications ranging from optical manipulation to quantum information.     

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.     

Measuring the topological charge of an optical vortex by using a tilted convex lens

We demonstrate, analytically and experimentally, a simple, but effective method to determine the topological charge of an optical vortex by using a spherical bi-convex lens, a ubiquitous optical element found in any optics laboratory. Just by tilting the lens and recording the intensity distribution of a propagating vortex at a predicted position past the lens, we have been able to measure both the sign and the magnitude of the topological charge m   up to m=±14$m=\pm 14$. Our experimental results are in excellent agreement with analytical predictions.     

高次方涡旋光束经大数值孔径透镜的聚焦特性

为了获得多种类型的波长量级聚焦光斑,研究了一种新型涡旋光束,高次方涡旋光束经过大数值孔径透镜的聚焦。基于矢量德拜积分公式,理论上研究了线偏振的高次方涡旋光束经过大数值孔径透镜的聚焦特性。研究了涡旋光束的拓扑荷数和幂次方数对聚焦平面光强和电场x分量的相位分布的影响。研究结果表明,通过控制涡旋光束的拓扑荷数和幂次方数可以产生不同类型的聚焦光强分布,例如尺寸约为2个波长大小的实心和空心型聚焦光斑。此外,与普通的涡旋光束聚焦不同,高次方涡旋光束聚焦后的奇点并不在焦点处。这些特殊的聚焦光斑有望在微粒的操控等领域中得到应用。     

离轴拉盖尔-高斯涡旋光束传输中的光斑演变

在产生涡旋光束过程中, 固体激光器所输出的光束中心 很难与螺旋相位板的中心完全对准, 实际出射的光束为离轴涡旋光束. 在衍射理论的基础上, 对离轴涡旋光束的传输进行了研究, 推导了离轴涡旋光束传输一段距离后电场和光强的解析表达式.研究表明, 与理想的涡旋光束不同, 离轴涡旋光束具有非对称性的光强分布, 在传输过程中光斑除了展宽外, 涡旋暗核还会发生移动. 拓扑电荷数的大小只影响到光束的展宽, 拓扑电荷数为正时, 暗核沿着逆时针切线方向移动; 拓扑电荷数为负时, 暗核沿着顺时针的切线方向移动, 该结果对长距离探测涡旋光束的对准问题起到指导作用.     

Experimental research on the longitudinal field generated by a tightly focused beam

The longitudinal optical field is a peculiar physical phenomenon that is always involved with the domain of near-field optics. Due to its extraordinary properties, it has recently attracted increasing attention in research and application. In this work, the longitudinal fields generated by the evanescent illumination of tightly focused, different polarized hollow beams are investigated. The focused light fields are numerically simulated according to vector diffraction theory, and their vector analysis is also carried out. The longitudinal fields on the focal plane are demonstrated experimentally using tip-enhanced scanning near-field microscopy. The simulation and experimental results show that the tightly focused radially polarized beam is suited to generating a stronger and purer longitudinal optical field at the focus.     

Focus evolution of Gaussian beam induced by phase plate

In this article, vector diffraction theory is employed to investigate the focusing properties of the Gaussian beam through a phase plate. The phase plate may alter the wavefront phase of an incoming beam by topological charge. Both the circular phase distribution and the annular phase distribution plates are investigated. Numerical simulations show that the focal intensity distribution depends on topological charge. With changing topological charge, focal intensity distribution may evolve into ring shape, and some novel focal spots may occur. Focal intensity distribution evolving process with integer topological charge differs considerably from that with fraction topological charge. When the concentric annular phase plate is placed in the laser path, the focal intensity distribution depends on both the inner radius and topological charge. For small inner radius of the phase plate, doughnut-shape focal pattern occurs. With increasing inner radius, the diameter of the doughnut focal pattern decreases, and doughnut shape disappears slowly in some cases.     

Detecting the topological charge of vortex beams using an annular triangle aperture

The Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of a vortex beam by an annular triangle aperture is analyzed theoretically and experimentally. It is found that the pattern of the far-field diffraction intensity distribution exhibits a triangular lattice array, which becomes much clearer with the increase of the ratio of the inner to the outer side of the annular triangle aperture. The number of spot points of any external side of the triangular lattice array minus one is just equal to the topological charge value of the measured optical vortex. For the vortex beam with negative topological charge, the triangular diffraction pattern after the annular triangle aperture will be rotated by 180° in relation to the case of the positive topological charge. Based on the above properties, we propose a simple and feasible method to determine the magnitude and sign of the topological charge of an optical vortex beam.     

Polarization vortex spatial optical solitons in Bessel optical lattices

We investigate the formation of polarization vortex spatial optical solitons in optical lattice induced by a non-diffracting Bessel beam. The properties of these solitons in zeroth-order and first-order Bessel lattices with focusing and defocusing Kerr nonlinearity are discussed. It is found that these solitons have some analogies with phase vortex solitons carrying single positive or negative topological charge in these lattices. Besides, these polarization vortex solitons have complicated dynamical characteristic and can be stabilized in some parameter region.     

Focusing of hyperbolic-cosine-Gaussian beam with a non-spiral vortex

The focusing properties of the hyperbolic-cosine-Gaussian beam, which contains an optical vortex induced by a non-spiral phase plate, are investigated numerically. The phase plate alters phase distribution linearly in a half-section part of the hyperbolic-cosine-Gaussian beam, which results in one non-spiral optical vortex. Results show that the phase variation rate of the non-spiral phase plate influences focal intensity distribution considerably, and some novel focal patterns, such as line focal spot, “H”-shape focal spot, and intensity peaks array, may occur. Focal shift, focal split, and focal switch appear in focal evolution with increasing phase variation rate. The focal evolution differs for different parameters in cosh parts of the hyperbolic-cosine-Gaussian beam. For big parameters in cosh parts, the value of local intensity peaks is comparable to that of maximum intensity peaks.     

Angular momentum density of a Gaussian vortex beam

The Gaussian vortex beam is assumed to be linearly polarized.The analytical expression of the electric field of a linearly polarized Gaussian vortex beam propagating in free space is derived by using the vectorial Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integral formulae.The propagating magnetic field of the linearly polarized Gaussian vortex beam is presented by taking the curl of the electric field.By employing the electromagnetic field of the linearly polarized Gaussian vortex beam beyond the paraxial approximation,the analytical expression of the angular momentum density of the linearly polarized Gaussian vortex beam is derived.The three components of the angular momentum density of a linearly polarized Gaussian vortex beam are demonstrated in the reference plane.The effects of the linearly polarized angle and the topological charge on the three components of the angular momentum density are investigated.To acquire the more longitudinal angular momentum density requires such an optimal choice that the linearly polarized angle is set to be zero and the topological charge increases.This research is useful to the optical trapping,the optical guiding,and the optical manipulation.     

Intensity and spatial correlation properties of tightly focused partially coherent radially polarized vortex beams

By expanding the Debye theory into the tight focusing of partially coherent field, the intensity and spatial correlation properties of partially coherent radially polarized vortex beams are studied. Expressions are derived for the intensity distribution and the spectral degree of coherence in the focal region. It is found that the intensity and the transverse and longitudinal coherence degrees in the focal region change with the variation of the topological charge and coherence length of the vortex beam. In addition, the degree of coherence is shown to exhibit phase singularities.     

Influence of astigmatism and defocusing on the focusing of a singular beam

Using the Fresnel–Kirchhoff diffraction integral, the intensity distribution and encircled energy of a singular beam at the focal plane of a lens, has been numerically evaluated in the presence of astigmatism and defocusing. Study has been made for two values of topological charge. The aberration results in flattening of dark core and the effect is more pronounced for beam with double topological charge. Twofold symmetry in intensity distribution is observed for selected values of defocusing. The results have been verified by the optical transfer function (OTF) approach.     

线偏振相位涡旋光束的像散特性

提出采用像散系数表征涡旋光束的像散特性。利用螺旋相位板产生了线偏振相位涡旋光束,并对其光束质量及像散特性进行了实际测量。数值模拟了不同拓扑荷数的涡旋光束的传输特性及光束质量,分析了像散系数随拓扑荷数变化的规律,结果表明：当拓扑荷数为整数时,光束无像散,像散系数为零;当拓扑荷数为半奇数时,光束的像散特性明显,像散系数达到极大值;随着拓扑荷数整数部分的增加,像散系数的极大值减小。     

部分相干涡旋光束传输中的光斑分析

在近轴光束近似条件下,采用交叉谱密度传输公式推导了 部分相干涡旋光束传输一段距离后观测平面上交叉谱密度矩阵元的解析表达式, 在此基础上对观测平面上的光强分布进行了分析.研究表明, 和完全相干涡旋光束不同,部分相干涡旋光束传输后光斑中心点的光强会逐渐凸现出来, 随着传输距离的增加,观测平面上的光强会逐渐演变为类似高斯型分布的特性. 这种演变规律与源平面上光源的拓扑电荷数和相干长度有关, 在其他参数不变的情况下,拓扑电荷数越小,相干长度越短, 演变为高斯型光斑的速度越快.最后针对一阶部分相干高斯涡旋光束, 通过观测平面上光强极值研究,对光斑随传输距离演变的过程进行了详细的分析, 在理论上对这种演变规律给出了严格的证明.     

拉盖尔高斯涡旋光束的传输

针对拉盖尔高斯涡旋光束,推导了其传输后目标平面上光电场的解析表达式,理论研究表明,传输一段距离后, 对于拉盖尔高斯光束的光斑大小的描述,高斯光斑尺寸已经不再适用.如果采用光强最亮处的半径来表示目标平面上的光斑大小则比较方便. 除了传输中的衍射导致光束展宽以外, 横截面上光束的相位分布也发生了独特的变化. 等相位线由原来的射线转化为弧线,拓扑电荷数为正时,弧线朝顺时针方向弯曲,拓扑电荷数为负时,弧线朝逆时针方向弯曲. 关键词： 涡旋光束 传输 光斑尺寸 相位分布