Abstract
We report polarization coupling of radial and azimuthal electric field components of a vector light beam as predicted by the fact that the vector Helmholtz equation is expressed as coupled differential equations in cylindrical coordinates. To clearly observe the polarization variation of a beam as it propagates, higher order transverse modes of a vector Bessel-Gaussian beam were generated by a gain distribution modulation technique, which created a narrow ring-shaped gain region in a Nd:YVO4 crystal. The polarization coupling was confirmed by the observation that the major polarization component of a vector Bessel-Gaussian beam alternates between radial and azimuthal components along with the propagation.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 075710 |
Journal | Journal of Optics (United Kingdom) |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 Jul |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- beam propagation
- polarization coupling
- vector beam
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics