In our recent joint publication with Prof. Xianzhong Chen from Heriot-Watt University, UK, we demonstrated the creation of grafted perfect vector vortex beams using optical metasurfaces.
Perfect vector vortex beams have attracted considerable interest due to their peculiar optical features. They are a particular type of structured beams that possess peculiar properties of both vortex beams and vector beams. The vortex component in a perfect vector vortex beam has a spiral phase wavefront that can carry orbital angular momentum, while the vector nature means that the beam has a spatially variant polarization profile. Such beams have been extensively used for particle manipulation, micro-drilling, and optical encryption.
Perfect vector vortex beams are typically generated through the superposition of perfect vortex beams, which suffer from a limited number of topological charges. With our work, we demonstrated the generation of hybrid grafted perfect vector vortex beams and even showed their dynamic control. Such hybrid grafted perfect vector vortex beams are generated through the superposition of grafted perfect vortex beams using an optical metasurface.
The idea is inspired by the horticultural grafting in plants, i.e., the act of placing a part of one plant on a branch or root of a second plant. Similarly, grafted vortex beams can be formed by grafting two or more optical vortices with different combinations of topological charges.
The original article appeared in Nature Communications and can be viewed here.
