Polarization structure of optical vortices in inclined Laguerre–Gaussian beams passed through a uniaxial crystal

Abstract

The work shows that in linearly polarized Laguerre–Gaussian beams passing through an anisotropic medium at an angle to the optical axis of the crystal, the distribution of optical vortices is devoid of axial symmetry. It is shown that the trajectories of movement of polarization singularities in the plane of the Laguerre–Gauss beam are different for different cases of input linear polarization at angles γ=±45∘ and there is an exchange of optical vortices, provided that the sign of the topological charge is preserved. It is shown that when the axis of an anisotropic medium is tilted, the movement of optical vortices occurs, accompanied by topological reactions of creation, destruction, or displacement of optical vortices to the periphery of the beam. It is characteristic that at angles of inclination by linear polarization γ=+45∘, topological reactions of creation and annihilation occur, and at angles γ=−45∘, topological reactions of displacement of optical vortices to the periphery of the beam occur.