Determination of polarization structures of an electromagnetic beam after passing through lens systems

Abstract

We investigate the polarization structures of an electromagnetic (EM) beam after passing through 2-f and 4-f lens systems and possibilities to control them. The study first theoretically establishes an intuitive connection between the vector competitive-effect and parameters of the EM beam at an input plane in determining the structure of degree of polarization at subsequent planes. Further, the first-time experimental demonstration of these polarization structures confirms the predictions made in theory. This experimental observation is a clear signature of coherence-induced polarization changes in an EM beam on passing through lens systems. We believe this work will motivate the ongoing explorations and would offer a rich framework to study the coherence and polarization features of EM optical beams currently being implemented in several intriguing applications.