Optical Vortices Sharp Focusing by Silicon Ring Gratings Using High-Performance Computer Systems

The diffraction of vortex laser beams with circular polarization (with different direction of polarization rotation) by silicon ring gratings was investigated in this paper. The silicon diffractive axicons with different numerical apertures (NA) were considered as such ring gratings. The considered diffractive axicons are compared with single silicon circular protrusion (cylinder). The finite difference time domain method was used for Light propagation (3D) through the proposed silicon ring gratings and silicon cylinder. The possibility of subwavelength focusing by varying the height of the elements is demonstrated. In particular, it is numerically shown that a silicon cylinder forms a light spot with the minimum size (intensity) of the longitudinal component of the electric field FWHM is 0.32λ.

Comparison of the focused optical vortices produced by high-aperture phase conventional and spiral zone plates

Using the FDTD simulation, sharp focusing of a linearly polarized Gaussian beam with an embedded topological charge m = 3 by a phase zone plate and focusing of a Gaussian beam by a phase spiral zone plate with topological charge m = 3 were studied. The obtained results showed that proposed elements formed different patterns of intensity at a focal plane. The spiral zone plate forms a focal spot with three petals. At a distance of 13.5 μm from the focus, the lobe structure of the intensity (and energy flux) is replaced by an annular distribution.

Sharp focusing of beams with V-point polarization singularities

It is theoretically and numerically shown that when tightly focusing an n-th order vector light field that has the central V-point (at which the linear polarization direction is undetermined), the polarization singularity index n, and a "flower"-shaped intensity pattern with 2(n-1) lobes it forms a transverse intensity distribution with 2(n-1) local maxima. At the same time, a vector light field with the polarization singularity index -n, which has the form of a "web" with 2(n+1) cells generates at the sharp focus a transverse intensity distribution with 2(n+1) local maxima. In the focal spot, either 2(n-1) or 2(n+1) V-point polarization singularities with alternating indices +1 or -1 are formed at the intensity zero.

Sharp Focusing of a Hybrid Vector Beam with a Polarization Singularity

The key result of this work is the use of the global characteristics of the polarization singularities of the entire beam as a whole, rather than the analysis of local polarization, Stokes and Poincare–Hopf indices. We extend Berry’s concept of the topological charge of scalar beams to hybrid vector beams. We discuss tightly focusing a new type of nth-order hybrid vector light field comprising n C-lines (circular polarization lines). Using a complex Stokes field, it is shown that the field polarization singularity index equals n/2 and does not preserve in the focal plane. The intensity and Stokes vector components in the focal plane are expressed analytically. It is theoretically and numerically demonstrated that at an even n, the intensity pattern at the focus is symmetrical, and instead of C-lines, there occur C-points around which axes of polarization ellipses are rotated. At n = 4, C-points characterized by singularity indices 1/2 and ‘lemon’-type topology are found at the focus. For an odd source field order n, the intensity pattern at the focus has no symmetry, and the field becomes purely vectorial (with no elliptical polarization) and has n V-points, around which linear polarization vectors are rotating.

Bessel Beam: Significance and Applications—A Progressive Review

Diffraction is a phenomenon related to the wave nature of light and arises when a propagating wave comes across an obstacle. Consequently, the wave can be transformed in amplitude or phase and diffraction occurs. Those parts of the wavefront avoiding an obstacle form a diffraction pattern after interfering with each other. In this review paper, we have discussed the topic of non-diffractive beams, explicitly Bessel beams. Such beams provide some resistance to diffraction and hence are hypothetically a phenomenal alternate to Gaussian beams in several circumstances. Several outstanding applications are coined to Bessel beams and have been employed in commercial applications. We have discussed several hot applications based on these magnificent beams such as optical trapping, material processing, free-space long-distance self-healing beams, optical coherence tomography, superresolution, sharp focusing, polarization transformation, increased depth of focus, birefringence detection based on astigmatic transformed BB and encryption in optical communication. According to our knowledge, each topic presented in this review is justifiably explained.

Formation of the reverse flow of energy in a sharp focus

It was theoretically shown that in the interference pattern of four plane waves with specially selected directions of linear polarization it is formed a reverse flow of energy. The areas of direct and reverse flow alternate in a staggered order in the cross section of the interference pattern. The absolute value of the reverse flow directly depends on the angle of convergence of the plane waves (on the angle between the wave vector and the optical axis) and reach the maximum at an angle of convergence close to 90 degrees. The right-handed triples of the vectors of four plane waves (the wave vector with positive values of projection to optical axis and the vector of electric and magnetic fields) when added in certain areas of the interference pattern form an electromagnetic field described by the left-handed triple of vectors; however, the projection of wave vector to optical axis has negative values. In these areas, the light propagates in the opposite direction. A similar explanation of the mechanism of the formation of a reverse flow can be applied to the case of a sharp focusing of a laser beam with a second-order polarization singularity. It is also shown that if a spherical dielectric Rayleigh nanoparticle is placed in the backflow region, then a force directed in the opposite direction will act on it (the scattering force will be more than the gradient force).