A generation method of tunable cylindrical vector ring beam

• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlaseng.2012.06.009
• Publication Date: 2012-07-20T17:55:24Z
• Authors: Xiangmei Dong; Tao Geng; Jiabi Chen; Songlin Zhuang
• Keywords: Axicon; Reflector (photography); Corner reflector

Abstract Cylindrical vector beams have attracted much attention recently due to novel properties and applications. And generation for this kind of beams is very important and necessary when it is used in practice. In this article, a simple and convenient generation method for tunable cylindrical vector ring beams is proposed. Incident beam passes orderly through the convex axicon reflector, cylindrical polarization component, concave axicon reflector, and two half wave plates. These components are put coaxially and symmetrically. The cylindrical polarization component is a cylindrical sheet of polarizing film that is inserted between the convex axicon reflector and concave axicon reflector, which can initially convert beam into cylindrical vector ring beam. In addition, the two half wave plates are used to alter the polarization distribution symmetrically. Experimental results show that this kind of generation method is valid, feasible, and convenient.