Nongeneric polarization singularities in combined vortex beams

Nongeneric polarization structures of singular beams formed as a coherent coaxial mixture of weighted orthogonally polarized single-charged Laguerre-Gauss modes with different radial indices are analyzed. A general solution for the superposition of elliptically orthogonally polarized partial vortex beams is obtained; the limiting special cases in which the mixed modes are linearly or circularly polarized are investigated. It is established that unusual spatially stable polarization structures such as closed C contours and L contours with a fixed azimuth of linear polarization arise in such combined beams. The results are experimentally confirmed by using a new diffraction method for testing phase singularities in optical beams.     

Polarization singularities in partially coherent combined beams

Vector singularities are predicted and discovered experimentally in partially polarized combined fields formed by incoherent superposition of orthogonally polarized beams. Such singularities are U contours with zero degree of polarization and isolated P points with unit degree of polarization centered at vortices of the orthogonally polarized component of the combined beam. Crossing a U contour switches the polarization state to the orthogonal one. The above-mentioned singularities are adequately described in terms of the complex degree of polarization in the Stokes-space representation. It is shown that the field elements corresponding to the extrema of the complex degree of polarization form the vector skeleton of a partially coherent nonuniformly polarized field.     

Composite spectral Stokes singularities in coherent and incoherent superpositions of partially coherent nonparaxial vortex beams

Taking the partially coherent cosh-Gaussian (ChG) vortex beam as an illustrative example, the composite spectral Stokes singularities formed by coherent and incoherent superpositions of partially coherent vortex beams beyond the paraxial approximation are studied, where the effect of superposition scheme on composite spectral Stokes singularities is stressed. It is shown that there exist s₁₂ (C-points), s₂₃ and s₃₁ composite spectral Stokes singularities, which are variable by varying a control parameter, such as the spatial correlation length, waist width, off-axis distance, or decentered parameter, as well as the propagation distance. In particular, the number, position, degree of polarization of composite spectral Stokes singularities and the critical point at which the creation–annihilation process takes place depend on the superposition scheme. A comparison with the previous work is also made.     

Composite stokes singularities in coherently and incoherently superimposed vector optical fields

The composite Stokes singularities formed in the coherent and incoherent superposition of two vector monochromatic coherent optical fields are studied and compared analytically and numerically. It is shown that the dynamic behavior of composite Stokes singularities depends on the superposition scheme (coherent or incoherent superposition), initial spatial distributions of the two superimposed fields, and propagation distance, and for the coherent superposition additionally depends on the relative phase of the two fields. There exist S₁₂ (C-points), S₃₁, S₂₃ composite singularities, and L-lines, in particular, V-points and C-lines at the transverse plane. Generally, both V-points and C-lines are unstable. For the coherent superposition the degree of polarization P=1, whereas for the incoherent superposition P may be less than 1 and is variable upon propagation. The results are illustrated analytically and numerically.     

A novel orthogonally linearly polarized Nd:YVO4 laser

We presented a novel orthogonally linearly polarized Nd:YVO₄ laser. Two pieces of a-cut grown-together composite YVO₄/Nd:YVO₄ crystals were placed in the resonant cavity with the c-axis of the two crystals orthogonally. The polarization and power performance of the orthogonally polarized laser were investigated. A 26.2-W orthogonally linearly polarized laser was obtained. The power ratio between the two orthogonally polarized lasers was varied with the pump power caused by the polarized mode coupling. The longitudinal modes competition and the corresponding variable optical beats were also observed from the orthogonally polarized laser. We also adjusted the crystals with their c-axis parallele to each other, and a 40.7-W linearly polarized TEM₀₀ laser was obtained, and the beam quality factors were M²_x=1.37 and M²_y=1.25.     

双孔干涉产生偏振奇点分析

在近轴近似的条件下,采用标量衍射积分的方法,对电磁场的双孔干涉进行了研究,并对千涉场中产生偏振奇点的情况进行了推广。在研究中通过双孔的光电场为线偏振状态,具有不同的偏振方向。数值计算结果表明,即使通过双孔的光电场的相位相同,只要双孔的尺寸存在一定的差异,干涉场中除了能够产生普通的的线偏振外,圆偏振奇点也会出现。     

A cascade of singular field patterns in Young’s interference experiment

We analyze Young’s interference experiment for the case that two correlated, linearly polarized beams are used. It is shown that even when the incident fields are partially coherent, there are always correlation singularities (pairs of lines where the fields are completely uncorrelated) on the observation screen. These correlation singularities evolve in a non-trivial manner into dark lines (phase singularities in the paraxial approximation). The latter in turn each unfold into a triplet of polarization singularities, namely an L-line and two C-lines of opposite handedness.     

Phase and polarization singularities of nonparaxial Gaussian vortex beams

The analytical expression for nonparaxial Gaussian vortex beams propagating in free space is derived, which enables us to study phase and polarization singularities in nonparaxial vector wavefields. Differing from the polarization singularities formed by two transverse electric-field components in the paraxial regime, the polarization singularities can be formed by the transverse and longitudinal electric-field components of nonparaxial beams, and there exist C-points and L-lines. The variation of the beam parameters and propagation distance will result in a shift of phase and polarization singularities, but their position relation remains unchanged and the topological relationship holds true.     

Observation of a superposition of orthogonally polarized geometric beams with a <Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>-cut Nd:YVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystal

We investigate a superposition of orthogonally polarized geometric beams generated from a c-cut Nd:YVO₄ laser. Experimental results reveal that a geometric mode possesses a linearly polarized state and circularly polarized states in opposite directions at the same time and the superposition of orthogonally polarized geometric beams can be generated systematically by controlling the pump offset. We use the birefringence theory to analyze the data, and the numerical results have a good agreement with the experimental results.     

Propagation of spectral Stokes singularities of stochastic electromagnetic beams through atmospheric turbulence

The propagation of spectral Stokes singularities (vortices) of stochastic electromagnetic vortex beams through atmospheric turbulence is studied, where the electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) vortex beam is taken as an illustrative example. It is shown that the spectral Stokes vortices S ₁₂ (C-points), S ₂₃ and S ₃₁ introduced to describe the polarization singularities of stochastic electromagnetic beams appear in turbulence. The motion, creation, annihilation and polarization changes of S ₁₂, S ₂₃ and S ₃₁ vortices, as well as the handedness inversion of S ₁₂ vortices may appear as the propagation distance or one beam parameter varies. In the process the topological relationship holds true. In comparison with the free-space propagation, the variation of the refractive index structure constant C_n²C_{n}^{2} in atmospheric turbulence results in similar effects as above. The dependence of S ₁₂, S ₂₃ and S ₃₁ vortices on the propagation distance and beam and turbulence parameters are illustrated by numerical examples.     

Vortex solitons with inhomogeneous polarization in nonlocal self-focusing nonlinear media

Both azimuthally and radially polarized vortex solitons are investigated to be able to exist in highly nonlocal nonlinear media. We get exactly analytical solutions of azimuthally polarized vortex solitons with only polarization singularities and radially polarized vortex solitons with both phase singularities and polarization singularities. Both azimuthally and radially polarized vortex solitons can exist in nonlocal self-focusing nonlinear media with proper modulation of the beam power and the degree of nonlocality. Contrary to those of radially polarized counterparts in local Kerr media, the topological charge can be any integer. When the topological charge m ≠ 0, both phase singularities and polarization singularities work. When m = 0, the polarization singularities work. Azimuthally polarized vortex solitons with polarization singularities corresponds to the linearly polarized vortex solitons with single charge. Our results show that polarization singularities work the same way as phase singularities in some sense.     

Nonparaxial propagation of linearly polarized modified Bessel–Gaussian beams and phase singularities of the electromagnetic field components

Based on an operator transformation technique and the nonparaxial propagation results of linearly polarized Gaussian beams, the nonparaxial propagation formulas of linearly polarized modified Bessel–Gaussian beams with optical vortices are constructed. Numerical investigations indicate that electromagnetic field components associated with the beams exhibit different phase singularities.     

Vector singularities of superposition of mutually incoherent orthogonally polarized beams

It is shown that, at an incoherent superposition of orthogonally polarized laser beams, a special type of singularities are formed in the cross section of a combined beam in place of the well-known singularities, such as optical vortices (for scalar fields); C points, at which the polarization is circular; and L lines, along which the polarization is linear (for coherent vector fields). These new singularities are U lines, along which the degree of polarization is zero and the state of polarization is undetermined, and P points, at which the degree of polarization is equal to unity and the state of polarization is determined by the nonzero component of the combined beam. Conditions of topological stability of U and P singularities are discussed, as well as peculiarities of the spatial distribution of the degree of polarization of the field in the vicinity of such singularities. First experimental results on the reconstruction of a vector skeleton formed by U and P singularities in combined speckle fields are presented.     

Conventional and collision photon echo in ytterbium vapor

The polarization properties of the photon echo generated by two linearly polarized pulses of resonant radiation at the (6s6p)³ P ₁ ? (6s ²)¹ S ₀ transition of ¹⁷⁴Yb are investigated. A complicated polarization behavior of the photon echo versus an angle between the polarization vectors of the excitation pulses is revealed in a mixture of ytterbium vapor with inert gas. For the angles ranging from 0° to 75°, a conventional echo with its linear polarization coinciding with the second excitation pulse dominates and the echo amplitude decreases with an increasing angle. For the angles ranging from 75° to 89°, the photon echo is elliptically polarized. Finally, for an angle of 90°, the conventional echo disappears and the collision echo becomes linearly polarized along the first excitation pulse.     

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.     

Effect of polarization on the evolution of electromagnetic hollow Gaussian Schell-model beam

Based on the theory of coherence, an analytical propagation formula for partially polarized and partially coherent hollow Gaussian Schell-model beams (HGSMBs) passing through a paraxial optical system is derived. Furthermore, we show that the degree of polarization of source may affect the evolution of HGSMBs and a tunable dark region may exist. For two special cases of fully coherent and partially coherent δ_xx = δ_yy, normalized intensity distributions are independent of the polarization of source.     

光谱开关与多色光场的奇点光学效应

推导出多色高斯光束和高斯-谢尔模型光束通过杨氏实验双缝传输的谱强度公式.对完全空间相干光和部分空间相干光照明杨氏实验装置出现的光谱开关作了详细研究,并判断其是否属于奇点光学效应. 结果表明：多色场奇点光学效应的判据应当是光谱开关出现时的谱强度极小值S_min=0,而不是总光强极小值I_min=0. 当用多色高斯-谢尔模型光束照明杨氏实验装置时,在近场和远场产生的光谱开关都不属于奇点光学效应. 当用多色高斯光束照明杨氏实验装置时,只有远场产 关键词： 光谱开关 奇点光学效应 完全相干和部分相干 多色光场     

Phase singularity annihilation of focused partially coherent beams

Expressions for focused Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beams are derived and used to study the annihilation and subwavelength structures of phase singularities in the focal region, and to compare with the case of fully coherent Gaussian beams. It is found that the truncation parameter δ and normalized coherence length ε both affect the presence and spatial distribution of phase singularities in the focal plane. Additionally, during the creation and annihilation process the saddle point near the phase singularity does not disappear in the focal plane for GSM beams.     

Generation of multi-color stimulated raman emission from two-color linearly or circularly polarized pump beams

A laser beam at two different frequencies separated by 587 cm^–1 is focused into pressurized hydrogen (rotational transition energy, 587 cm^–1) to generate multi-color stimulated Raman emission. The polarization state and the pulse energy are measured for each generated emission line using linearly and circularly polarized pump beams. The effect of the polarization is discussed by using a parameter characterizing the polarizability of hydrogen and a conservation rule for the angular momentum in four-wave mixing. Many rotational lines are generated with linearly polarized pump beams through a four-wave mixing process. This is in striking contrast to the results obtained by using a single-color circularly polarized pump beam which generates only one rotational line through a conventional stimulated Raman process.     

非均匀关联径向偏振部分相干光的产生

从理论和实验两方面对非均匀关联径向偏振部分相干光的产生进行了研究.理论上,基于相位关联与相干度的联系,推导出了非均匀关联径向偏振部分相干光的2×2阶交叉谱密度矩阵及相干度分布.实验上,利用一个相位型液晶空间光调制器的不同区域,对入射的完全相干的径向偏振光的两个正交偏振分量分别加载随机相位调制,并实验测量了这种光束的相干度分布及其对光强分布的影响.实验结果验证了光束相干度的非均匀关联结构,并且通过改变随机相位的高斯调制半宽可以改变光束的相干性分布.研究表明,随着随机相位的高斯调制半宽的增加,光束中两点间的相干度逐渐减小,其光强分布由圆环状逐渐变化为类平顶的光强分布.这种非均匀关联的径向偏振部分相干光在激光微操纵和材料加工等领域具有一定的潜在应用价值.