Generation of transversely oriented optical polarization M\"obius strips

TL;DR

This paper introduces a time-reversal method based on vectorial diffraction theory to generate and control transversely oriented optical M"obius strips with tailored polarization topologies, enabling advanced applications in nanofabrication and quantum technologies.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel time-reversal approach to generate complex optical polarization topologies, specifically M"obius strips, in three-dimensional focal regions.

Findings

Successfully generated transversely oriented optical M"obius strips.

Extended the method to create various 3D polarization topologies.

Potential applications in nanofabrication and quantum communication.

Abstract

We report a time-reversal method based on the Richards-Wolf vectorial diffraction theory to generate transversely oriented optical M\"obius strips that wander around an axis perpendicular to the beam propagation direction. A number of sets of dipole antennae are purposefully positioned on a prescribed trajectory in the y = 0 plane and the radiation fields are collected by one high-NA objective lens. By sending the complex conjugate of the radiation fields in a time-reversed manner, the focal fields are calculated and the optical polarization topology on the trajectory can be tailored to form prescribed M\"obius strips. The method can be extended to construct various polarization topologies on three-dimensional trajectories in the focal region. The ability to control optical polarization topologies may find applications in nanofabrication, quantum communications, and light-matter interactions.