Abstract

A new class of vectorial vortex based on coherent addition of two orthogonal circularly polarized Bessel beams of identical order but with different propagation constants is presented. The transversely space-variant axially symmetric polarization distributions of these vectorial fields rotate as they propagate, while they maintain a propagation-invariant Bessel intensity distribution. These properties were demonstrated by use of discrete space-variant subwavelength gratings for $10.6\mu \mathrm{m}$ $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_2$ laser radiation. The polarization properties were verified by both full space-variant polarization analysis and measurements. Rotating intensity patterns are also demonstrated by transmitting the vectorial vortices through a linear polarizer.

© 2005 Optical Society of America

Geometrical phase image encryption obtained with space-variant subwavelength gratings

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Space-variant polarization manipulation for far-field polarimetry by use of subwavelength dielectric gratings

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