Generation of multiple focal holes by tightly focused azimuthally polarized double-ring-shaped beam with complex phase mask

We study the focusing properties of a tight focusing of double ring shaped azimuthally polarized beam through complex phase mask (CPM) with high NA objective lens, based on vector diffraction theory. A novel design to generate an azimuthally polarized subwavelength focal hole having FWHM of 0.332λ with long focal depth of about 18.8λ is illustrated numerically. Apart from generating focal hole with long focal depth, it is observed that a properly designed CPM also generates multiple focal hole segments useful for laser cutting, microscopy and the manipulation of optical traps of low refractive index particles.     

Tight focusing of double ring shaped radially polarized beam with high NA lens axicon

A method is presented for generation of a sub wavelength (0.45λ) longitudinally polarized beam, which propagates without divergence over lengths of about 8λ in free space. This is achieved by tight focusing of double ring shaped radially polarized beam with a high NA lens axicon that utilizes spherical aberration to duplicate the performance of an axicon and to create an extended focal line. The intensity distributions were calculated based on the vector diffraction theory and it was observed that in the case of high numerical aperture (NA) lens axicon, the distribution of the total intensity near the focus had little effect on the degree of truncation of the incident beam by the pupil.     

Intensity control of the focal spot by vectorial beam shaping

A vectorial beam shaping algorithm is presented for the design of a phase-only diffractive optical element to achieve a given target intensity profile in the focal plane under tight focusing conditions. The underlying iterative optimization scheme is based on the Richards-Wolf vectorial diffraction theory and the Gerchberg-Saxton method, and is suitable for an arbitrary incoming polarization distribution, since only the magnitudes of the field vectors in the focal plane are reshaped. The efficiency of the method is numerically demonstrated for flat-top beam shaping examples of linear and circular incoming beam polarizations and square and circular flat-top region shape. A diffraction efficiency of 97.1% and a uniformity error of 4.8% were achieved in the case of focusing a Gaussian input beam onto a 50λ × 50λ square flat-top region with a 1.4-NA lens.     

Sharper focal spot below λ/4 of azimuthally polarized illumination phase-encoded by the binary 0/π phase plate

The intensity distribution in the focal region for the azimuthally polarized beam phase-encoded by the binary 0/π phase plate is calculated on the basis of the vector diffraction theory. With the annular pupil aperture employed, the resolution of the focal spot will be improved remarkably. We demonstrate a sharper focal spot with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 0.223λ (below λ/4), significantly smaller that of linear, circular and radial polarization beam under the same condition. The focusing phenomena for illumination beam with various polarization status and beam shapes are analyzed explicitly. This analysis could have potential applications in confocal microscopy and two-photo microscopy for polarization difference imaging.     

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.     

Generation of tightly focused twin Bessel beams using circular Dammann gratings under radial polarization incidence

Generation of longitudinally polarized focusing twin Bessel beams in focal region of a high numerical aperture (NA) objective is described based on circular Dammann gratings for radially polarized Bessel–Gauss input fields. Numerical simulations show that, under focusing of an objective of NA=0.95, the depth of focus (DOF) of the focused twin Bessel beams can reach as long as tens or even ～10² of wavelengths while its average transverse spot over the whole range of the DOF is kept subdiffration-limited. At the same time, the longitudinal polarization purity in focus volume is higher than 90% for the central lobe. Therefore, this tightly focused non-diffracting field should be of great interest for applications in numerous areas, such as particle acceleration and manipulation, micromachining, second-harmonic generation, Raman spectroscopy, etc.     

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.     

Extending the depth of focus with high NA lens axicon

Based on vectorial Debye theory, tight focusing of x-polarized beam with high NA lens axicon is studied. The high NA lens axicon utilizes spherical aberration to duplicate the performance of an axicon and to create an extended focal line. The intensity distribution in the focal region is illustrated by numerical calculations. We show that the high NA lens axicon system can generates a sub wavelength beam (0.826λ) with depth of focus around 10λ.     

径向偏振光下的长焦、紧聚焦表面等离子体激元透镜

表面等离子体激元透镜(plasmonic lens, PL)是一种通过激发和操控表面等离子体激元 (SPPs), 突破衍射极限, 实现亚波长紧聚焦的纳米光子器件. 如何实现高效率的紧聚焦及调控, 一直是研究PL的重点. 如果选取电矢量沿径向振动的径向偏振光作为PL的入射光, 可从各个方向激发SPPs, 提高紧聚焦的能量效率. 本文提出了一种在径向偏振光激发下的长焦深、长焦距、亚波长紧聚焦的表面等离子体激元透镜, 该透镜由中心T 形微孔、阶梯形同心环和同心环结构组成. 本文首先利用有限元方法数值分析了中心微孔-同心环结构透镜的聚焦特性, 结果显示径向偏振光由底部入射可高效激发SPPs, 并且中心微孔透射光与散射至自由空间的SPPs由于多光束干涉形成了紧聚焦. 为进一步压缩焦斑、增加焦距、加深焦深、改善透镜聚焦特性, 本文引入中心T形微孔-阶梯形同心环结构, 从而对阶梯表面的SPPs同时提供了相位调制和传播方向的控制. 经过参数优化, 该透镜结构实现了光斑焦深、半高宽、焦距分别是入射光波长的2.5倍、0.388 倍、3.22倍的亚波长紧聚焦; 而且该透镜具有结构紧凑、尺寸小、易于集成的优点, 满足了纳米光子学对于器件微型化和高度集成化的要求. 该研究结果在纳米光子集成、近场光学成像与探测、纳米光刻等相关领域具有潜在的应用价值.     

Tight Focusing Properties of Phase Modulated Radially Polarized Laguerre Bessel Gaussian Beam

We propose a new approach for generating a multiple focal spot segment of subwavelength size, by tight focusing of a phase modulated radially polarized Laguerre Bessel Gaussian beam. The focusing properties are investigated theoretically by vector diffraction theory. We observe that the focal segment with multiple focal structures is separated with different axial distances and a super long dark channel can be generated by properly tuning the phase of the incident radially polarized Laguerre Bessel Gaussian beam. We presume that such multiple focal patterns and high intense beam may find applications in atom optics, optical manipulations and multiple optical trapping.     

Tightly focusing of spirally polarized Quadratic Bessel Gaussian beam through a dielectric interface

Based on vector diffraction theory, the tight focusing properties of spirally polarized axisymmetric Bessel-modulated Gaussian beam through a dielectric interface on high numerical aperture (NA) are investigated theoretically. The optical intensity distribution in the focal region of high NA objective lens is investigated in detail by numerical calculations. The results show that the focal shift induced in the focal region is by mismatch of refractive indices across the dielectric interface. It is also found that the optical intensity in focal region of spirally polarized Quadratic Bessel Gaussian (QBG) beam can be altered considerably by changing spiral parameter C that indicates the polarization spiral degree of the incident beam.     

Smallest focal hole

We study theoretically routes toward the most confined dark channel that can be obtained using high angular aperture focusing. One possible solution is to use a radially polarized beam combined with an optical singularity. Another possibility is to use an azimuthally polarized light beam combined with an annular aperture or a phase filter. Our results suggest that a focal hole of full-width at half maximum of approximately 0.3λ₀/NA is achievable, where λ₀ is the wavelength in vacuum and NA is the numerical aperture of the focusing system. Finally, we show that by letting a phase-shifted plane wave and a focused scalar wave interfere only one point in the focal plane will exhibit zero intensity. Advantages and disadvantages of the schemes are discussed.     

Tight focusing of J0-correlated Gaussian Schell-model beam through high numerical aperture

Based on the vectorial Debye diffraction theory, the tight focusing of a linearly polarized J₀-correlated Gaussian Schell-model (JGSM) beam through high numerical aperture (NA) is investigated. The components of intensity distributions as well as the 3D degree of polarization of light at the focal plane are depicted by numerical integrations, respectively. It is shown that intensity distributions as well as the degree of polarization of focused field not only strongly depend on the global correlation length of the JGSM beam but also relate to the focusing parameter of NA. It is also indicated that the weight of the longitudinal intensity component would enhance in the focal plane, as long as either the correlation length of the JGSM beam or the focusing parameter of NA increases.     

Formation of periodic surface nanostructures on Ti:Al2O3 crystals using femtosecond laser pulses

Periodic surface nanostructures are observed on Ti³⁺:Al₂O₃ single crystals that have been irradiated by a single focused beam from a femtosecond pulsed laser (wavelength: 800 nm; pulse duration: 130 and 152 fs). Atomic force microscopy images of single-ablated zones and modified structures created by fixing and translating samples through the focal region of a linearly polarized laser beam reveal self-organized periodic surface nanostructures (ripples) with a subwavelength spacing, which are oriented perpendicular to the electric-field vector of the laser beam. The period of the subwavelength ripples obtained by linearly polarized laser irradiation varies from ∼λ/5 to 2λ/5 (λ: incident laser wavelength) depending on the laser pulse energy. This phenomenon can be explained by assuming that the incident light field interferes with the electric field of electron plasma waves propagating inside the material; this interference periodically modulates the electron plasma density and modifies the surface ablation. In addition, for the first time, we observe screw-shaped nanostructures in the focal spot of circularly polarized beam irradiation. The morphology of these nanostructures appears to reflect the circular polarization of the laser light.     

The focusing property of vector Bessel-Gauss beams by a high numerical aperture objective

The rich available transverse intensity structure of vector Bessel-Gauss beams make it important to probe into the focusing property by high numerical aperture objective. In this paper, we obtain the analytical expressions of azimuthally, radially and longitudinally polarized components in the focal area of the objective after tight focusing. Theoretical analysis and the numerical simulation show that, the transverse intensity distributions of the focused beams still have doughnut-like structure, two separate peak structure and circularly aligned array structure. The focused beam spots obtained by an objective with annular aperture usually have smaller spots than with circular aperture. The focused beam of the vector Bessel-Gauss beam with lowest mode number m = 0 is a radially and azimuthally polarized doughnut-like beam with no longitudinal component. These properties and results are useful in optical trapping and particle alignment.     

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.     

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）。     

Tight focusing of a double-ring-shaped, azimuthally polarized beam

We study the focusing properties of a double-ring-shaped azimuthally polarized beam through an annular high NA objective lens. It is shown that a subwavelength focal hole (～0.5λ) with a quite long depth of focus (～26λ) is achieved near the focus. 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.     

Nondiffracting transversally polarized beam

Generation of a nondiffracting transversally polarized beam by means of transmitting an azimuthally polarized beam through a multibelt spiral phase hologram and then highly focusing by a high-NA lens is presented. A relatively long depth of focus (～4.84λ) of the electric field with only radial and azimuthal components is achieved. The polarization of the wavefront near the focal plane is analyzed in detail by calculating the Stokes polarization parameters. It is found that the polarization is spatially varying and entirely transversally polarized, and the polarization singularity disappears at the beam center, which makes the central bright channel possible.     

Tight focusing effect of annular obstructed Bessel-modulated Gaussian beam

Based on vectorial diffraction theory, the effect of annular apodization on tightly focused azimuthally polarized Bessel-modulated Gaussian beam (QBG) are investigated theoretically. The numerical results show that the intensity distribution in focal region of the incident beam can be altered considerably by changing beam parameter (μ) and introducing annular apodization (δ). Beam parameter induces the focal splitting in transverse direction, while annular apodization leads to change in focal pattern along optical axis of the focusing system. More interesting, the focal splitting may be in continuous in certain case of incident beam propagating through aligned optical system which is suitable for application such as optical manipulation and optical trapping.