Generation of vector beams with liquid crystal disclination lines

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how guiding light through liquid crystal defect lines can generate various vector beams with complex polarization profiles, revealing topological coupling and potential for ultrafast beam manipulation.

Contribution

It introduces a method to produce vector beams with tailored polarization by exploiting liquid crystal topological defects, supported by numerical simulations of Maxwell's equations.

Findings

Defect in liquid crystals induces light field defect with doubled winding number.

Transformation of uniform light into radial polarization profiles.

Femtosecond pulses split into multiple regions depending on defect topology.

Abstract

We report that guiding light beams, ranging from continuous beams to femtosecond pulses, along liquid crystal defect lines can transform them into vector beams with various polarization profiles. Using Finite Difference Time Domain numerical solving of Maxwell equations, we confirm that the defect in the orientational order of the liquid crystal induces a defect in the light field with twice the winding number of the liquid crystal defect, coupling the topological invariants of both fields. For example, it is possible to transform uniformly-polarized light into light with a radial polarization profile. Our approach also correctly yields a zero-intensity region near the defect core, which is always present in areas of discontinuous light polarization or phase. Using circularly polarized incident light, we show that defects with non-integer winding numbers can be obtained, where topological constants are preserved by phase vortices, demonstrating coupling between the light's spin, orbital angular momentum and polarization profile. Further, we find an ultrafast femtosecond laser pulse travelling along a defect line splits into multiple intensity regions, again depending on the defect's winding number, allowing applications in beam steering and filtering. Finally, our approach describing generation of complex optical fields via coupling with topological defect lines in optically birefringent nematic fluids can be easily extended to high-intensity beams that affect nematic ordering.