We present an easy, efficient, and fast method to generate arbitrary linear combinations of light orbital angular-momentum eigenstates l = ±2 starting from a linearly polarized TEM00 laser beam. The method exploits the spin-to-orbital angular-momentum conversion capability of a liquid-crystal-based q plate and a Dove prism inserted into a Sagnac polarizing interferometer. The nominal generation efficiency is 100%, being limited only by reflection and scattering losses in the optical components. When closed paths are followed on the polarization Poincare ? sphere of the input beam, the associated Pancharatnam geometric phase is transferred unchanged to the orbital angular momentum state of the output beam.
Polarization-controlled evolution of light transverse modes and associated Pancharatnam geometric phase in orbital angular momentum
L Marrucci;
2010
Abstract
We present an easy, efficient, and fast method to generate arbitrary linear combinations of light orbital angular-momentum eigenstates l = ±2 starting from a linearly polarized TEM00 laser beam. The method exploits the spin-to-orbital angular-momentum conversion capability of a liquid-crystal-based q plate and a Dove prism inserted into a Sagnac polarizing interferometer. The nominal generation efficiency is 100%, being limited only by reflection and scattering losses in the optical components. When closed paths are followed on the polarization Poincare ? sphere of the input beam, the associated Pancharatnam geometric phase is transferred unchanged to the orbital angular momentum state of the output beam.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
