Monolithic generators of pseudo-nondiffracting optical vortex beams at the microscale

Abstract

We report on the fabrication and characterization of micro-optical elements with typical size of 100 μm, which enable the production of pseudo-nondiffracting optical vortex beams of arbitrary order. This is made possible from the monolithic integration of spiral phase plates and axicons into helical axicons by direct laser writing using femtosecond laser nanopolymerization. The optical performances of the fabricated three-dimensional singular microstructures are experimentally measured and compared with their expected theoretical behavior, both in intensity and phase. The proposed approach thus represents an attempt to merge the field of singular integrated optics with that of nondiffracting light fields.