Generation of Optical Pulses with Phase and/or Polarization Singularities and Their Applications

Abstract

Together with the introduction of topological light waves (light with phase or polarization singularities), their generation and applications were described. Using a photonic crystal, axially-symmetric polarizer or mirror, 1) supercontinuum optical vortex generation ranging ∼500 to ∼800 nm without spatial nor topological-charge dispersions, 2) generation of ultrabroadband axially-symmetric polarization modes ranging ∼600 to ∼800 nm without polarization dispersion, and 3) a high power radially-polarized light generation directly from a diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 bounce amplifier were experimentally demonstrated. As applications of generated topological light waves, 4) laser ablation of Ta plates using nanosecond optical vortex pulses and, in particular, using spin-orbit interactions of light, microneedle fabrication on a metal surface by laser ablation were performed.