Generation of vector beams using synthetic phase holograms.

Abstract

We discuss a class of synthetic phase holograms (SPHs) applied to the generation of vector fields. Each SPH encodes the transverse components of the vector field, modulated by different linear phase carriers. Such components, which are spatially separated by the carriers, are modulated by appropriate orthogonal polarizations. A final stage that makes the components collinear allows the generation of the vector field. We assess the efficiency and accuracy of the different SPHs, in the task of generating vector fields. The proposal is illustrated by the implementation of vector Bessel beams, which are experimentally generated in a setup based on a phase spatial light modulator.