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We demonstrate a technique for the generation of vectorial optical fields based on a single pass of light onto a reflective twisted nematic spatial light modulator (TN-SLM). Using a beam splitter and a quarter-wave plate, a polarization rotator is implemented. A curve of the behavior of this polarization rotator with the twisted nematic modulator in use proves a modulation up to 177 deg, making this setup suitable for engineering of cylindrical vector fields. A mathematical justification and an experimental demonstration of the generation of these beams and their quality are presented. The experimental results show that despite the presence of a small component of elliptical polarization, a twisted nematic modulator can be used to achieve local polarization control. A series of vector fields with variations of the parameters of topological charge, phase offset, and quadratic phase are engineered, analyzed with a linear polarizer, and captured. The proposed setup represents a simple approach for polarization manipulation using a TN-SLM and few optical elements, achieving polarization purity greater than 94%.
© 2017 Optical Society of America
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