Superpositions of up to six plane waves without electric-field interference

TL;DR

This paper introduces superpositions of up to six plane waves that maintain a homogeneous electric field intensity, enabling novel optical applications like chiral pattern writing and helicity imaging.

Contribution

It demonstrates the creation of complex plane wave superpositions with uniform electric field intensity, defying typical interference effects.

Findings

Superpositions have homogeneous electric field intensity.

They exhibit intricate 1D, 2D, and 3D helicity patterns.

Potential applications include chiral patterning and helicity imaging.

Abstract

Superpositions of coherent light waves typically interfere. We present superpositions of up to six plane waves which defy this expectation by having a perfectly homogeneous mean square of the electric field. For many applications in optics these superpositions can be seen as having a homogeneous intensity. Our superpositions show interesting one- two- and three dimensional patterns in their helicity densities, including several that support bright regions of superchirality. Our superpositions might be used to write chiral patterns in certain materials and, conversely, such materials might be used as the basis of an 'optical helicity' camera capable of recording spatial variations in helicity.