Focusing of evanescent vector waves

Abstract

We study focusing of two and three-dimensional evanescent vector waves, with a particular emphasis on identifying suitable intensity structures for applications in optical data storage. For two-dimensional evanescent waves large transverse spatial wave vectors result in purely circularly polarized evanescent states. We suggest that these may have applications in all-optical data storage through the inverse Faraday effect. On the other hand, for three-dimensional evanescent waves longitudinally polarized modes are observed to give the most tightly focused spot, and this may be utilized to confine light behind a solid immersion lens.