# General Lossless Spatial Polarization Transformations

## TL;DR

This paper explores how liquid crystals combined with fixed waveplates can perform complex, real-time polarization transformations across a light beam's transverse plane, enabling advanced control of light polarization for various applications.

## Contribution

It introduces a framework for general lossless spatial polarization transformations using liquid crystals and fixed waveplates, including experimental demonstrations.

## Key findings

- Demonstrated universal polarization transformations with liquid crystals.
- Achieved spatially varying polarization control across a beam.
- Enabled new applications like exotic vector beams and polarization correction.

## Abstract

Liquid crystals allow for the real-time control of the polarization of light. We describe and provide some experimental examples of the types of general polarization transformations, including universal polarization transformations, that can be accomplished with liquid crystals in tandem with fixed waveplates. Implementing these transformations with an array of liquid crystals, e.g., a spatial light modulator, allows for the manipulation of the polarization across a beam's transverse plane. We outline applications of such general spatial polarization transformations in the generation of exotic types of vector polarized beams, a polarization magnifier, and the correction of polarization aberrations in light fields.