Creating Complex Optical Longitudinal Polarization Structures

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how to structure the longitudinal polarization component of light, creating complex topological vector beams with linked and knotted vortex lines using non-paraxial propagation of focused sub-wavelength beams.

Contribution

It introduces a method to control the longitudinal polarization component and generate customized topological vector beams with complex vortex structures.

Findings

Linked and knotted longitudinal vortex lines achieved.

Controlled generation of topological vector beams.

Potential applications in advanced optical manipulation.

Abstract

In this paper we show that it is possible to structure the longitudinal polarization component of light. We illustrate our approach by demonstrating linked and knotted longitudinal vortex lines acquired upon non-paraxially propagating a tightly focused sub-wavelength beam. Remaining degrees of freedom in the transverse polarization components can be exploited to generate customized topological vector beams.