Common-path generation of stable cylindrical perfect vector vortex beams with arbitrary order

Abstract

A Highly flexible and efficient method of generating stable radially and Azimuthally polarized perfect optical vortex beams and all higher-order cylindrical vector vortex beams are proposed and demonstrated. The method is the most convenient implementation of the superposition of two orthogonally circularly polarized optical vortex beams of arbitrary integer topological charges. By simply controlling the relative amplitude and phase between vertical and horizontal polarization component of an input perfect vortex beam on a phase-sensitive Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) and using a common-path interferometry, all arbitrary order Poincaré beams are prepared. Calibration curve of relative phase vs grey-scale of the phase function on the SLM is drawn to facilitate the determination of required phase-offset using pre-calculated grey-scale colour-map. Generated beams states of polarization are uniformly distributed throughout the beam cross-section. The interference pattern of the two-beam in a projected linear polarization state also gives the cylindrically symmetric petal beams with control over the number and orientation of petals.