The focused vectorial fields with ultra-long depth of focus generated by the tunable complex filter

Abstract

According to the diffraction integral theory of vector field and the pupil filtering method with a discrete complex amplitude, we present a tunable pupil filter to achieve and manipulate the focused vector fields with ultra-long depth of focus. The filter consists of a polarization rotator with two /2 wave plates and a discrete complex amplitude filter with six zones. Amplitude transmissions of these zones are different and increase along the radial direction. And every two adjacent transmitted zones have the opposed phases 0 and . With optimized cylindrical polarization (0 =52) and discrete amplitude, the generalized cylindrical vector field can be tightly focused into a three-dimensional (3D) flat-top field with an extended depth of focus (～10 ) by a high numerical aperture lens. For the main outermost zone and the other five inner zones, we analyze the intensity distributions of the three polarized components and the total polarized component in the focal region. We find that the axially and azimuthally polarized components are the major contributors. The outermost zone offers the central field of the focused field while the other five zones affect the side lobe more obviously. Through adjusting the included angle between the double wave plates, we can change the polarization states of the incident vector field and alter the structures of the focused fields among the 3D flat-top focused field, needle-like field, tube-like field and the other fields with intermediate form. Result obtained is superior to that of the past research for the adjustable freedom between these forms, and it reveals the dynamic relation between the evolved vectorial form of incident field and the vector structure of the focused field. Our work paves a way to achieve the controlled dynamical focused field with a long depth of focus. The needle-like field, tube-like field and the well-matched 3D flat-top focused field will meet the demand of applications in optical microscope, optical micro-manipulating, optical micromachining and so on.