Sharp focusing of beams with V-point polarization singularities

Abstract

It is theoretically and numerically shown that when tightly focusing an n-th order vector light field that has the central V-point (at which the linear polarization direction is undetermined), the polarization singularity index n, and a "flower"-shaped intensity pattern with 2(n-1) lobes it forms a transverse intensity distribution with 2(n-1) local maxima. At the same time, a vector light field with the polarization singularity index -n, which has the form of a "web" with 2(n+1) cells generates at the sharp focus a transverse intensity distribution with 2(n+1) local maxima. In the focal spot, either 2(n-1) or 2(n+1) V-point polarization singularities with alternating indices +1 or -1 are formed at the intensity zero.

Keywords

• vector light beam
• topological charge
• polarization singularity
• optical vortex