Abstract

We present both experimentally and theoretically the transformation of radially and azimuthally polarized vector beams when they propagate through a biaxial crystal and are transformed by the conical refraction phenomenon. We show that, at the focal plane, the transverse pattern is formed by a ring-like light structure with an azimuthal node, this node being found at diametrically opposite points of the ring for radial/azimuthal polarizations. We also prove that the state of polarization of the transformed beams is conical refraction-like, i.e., that every two diametrically opposite points of the light ring are linearly orthogonally polarized.

© 2015 Optical Society of America

Polarization tailored novel vector beams based on conical refraction

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