Unveiling the propagation dynamics of self-accelerating vector beams.

Jonathan Bar-David,Noa Mazurski,Uriel Levy,Noa Voloch-Bloch

doi:10.1038/srep34272

Abstract

We study theoretically and experimentally the varying polarization states and intensity patterns of self-accelerating vector beams. It is shown that as these beams propagate, the main intensity lobe and the polarization singularity gradually drift apart. Furthermore, the propagation dynamics can be manipulated by controlling the beams’ acceleration coefficients. We also demonstrate the self-healing dynamics of these accelerating vector beams for which sections of the vector beam are being blocked by an opaque or polarizing obstacle. Our results indicate that the self-healing process is almost insensitive for the obstacles’ polarization direction. Moreover, the spatial polarization structure also shows self- healing properties, and it is reconstructed as the beam propagates further beyond the perturbation plane. These results open various possibilities for generating, shaping and manipulating the intensity patterns and space variant polarization states of accelerating vector beams.

Highlights

We study theoretically and experimentally the varying polarization states and intensity patterns of self-accelerating vector beams
In this report we present theoretical predictions along with numerical and experimental results showing the propagation dynamics, self-healing mechanisms and polarization distribution of radially-polarized vector Airy beams (RAVB)
From observing the Stokes parameters, we notice that the radial polarization structure is imprinted in all the Airy lobes, and the checkers-board structure is the result of destructive interference of anti-phase fields of adjacent lobes

Summary

Introduction

We study theoretically and experimentally the varying polarization states and intensity patterns of self-accelerating vector beams. The spatial polarization structure shows selfhealing properties, and it is reconstructed as the beam propagates further beyond the perturbation plane These results open various possibilities for generating, shaping and manipulating the intensity patterns and space variant polarization states of accelerating vector beams. The combination of Airy patterns and vector beams (shown in Fig. 1), which can be defined as Airy vector beams, has been somewhat overlooked by researchers, with very little reports so far[7,31] In such beams, the interplay between the Airy pattern and polarization states, symmetry differences and different propagation dynamics, rises many interesting outcomes. In this report we present theoretical predictions along with numerical and experimental results showing the propagation dynamics, self-healing mechanisms and polarization distribution of radially-polarized vector Airy beams (RAVB). While RAVBs are the basic form of accelerating vector beams, this research can be further extended to any accelerating wave packet and any type of polarization structure

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Results

Conclusion