Optical Quadratic Measure Eigenmodes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a rigorous mathematical method called quadratic measure eigenmodes (QME) for optimizing optical properties of electromagnetic fields, with applications in focusing, transmission, and structured illumination.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel QME technique that decomposes electromagnetic fields into eigenmodes for optimizing optical properties, verified through experimental minimization of focused beam size.

Findings

QME effectively optimizes optical field properties.

Experimental validation shows minimized focus size using Bessel beam superpositions.

Method applicable to photonic and plasmonic structures.

Abstract

We report a mathematically rigorous technique which facilitates the optimization of various optical properties of electromagnetic fields. The technique exploits the linearity of electromagnetic fields along with the quadratic nature of their interaction with matter. In this manner we may decompose the respective fields into optical quadratic measure eigenmodes (QME). Key applications include the optimization of the size of a focused spot, the transmission through photonic devices, and the structured illumination of photonic and plasmonic structures. We verify the validity of the QME approach through a particular experimental realization where the size of a focused optical field is minimized using a superposition of Bessel beams.