US 7,599,069 B2 · Vector beam generator using a passively phase stable optical interferometer

Abstract

Provided are techniques for generating optical vector beams (e.g., radially and azimuthally polarized light) using passive or active phase stable optical interferometry. Techniques may split an input optical beam into at least two output beams, and then couple those beams simultaneously into a passively phase stable optical interferometer. Beam splitting may be achieved by a diffractive optical element and coupling may be achieved by a single refractive optical device (lenses) or by a single mirror device (e.g., parabolic and spherical). The interferometer may provide the ability to manipulate (or transform) the polarization of part of the wavefront of each beam, as well as the ability to manipulate (or transform) the phase of part of the wavefront of each beam, such that the beams when combined have a vector beam polarization state.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method of generating an optical vector beam comprising:

transforming an input optical beam into at least two output beams, wherein the at least two output beams have the same polarization;
simultaneously coupling the at least two output beams into a single coupler that is a passive phase stability element collimating the at least two output beams for propagation along the same direction of an interferometer;
after said coupling, manipulating the polarization of each of the at least two output beams to form at least two polarization affected output beams each having a different polarization and each propagating along the same direction of the interferometer;
and
manipulating the phase of the at least two polarization affected output beams to form at least two phase affected output beams each propagating along the same direction of the interferometer, wherein combining the at least two phase affected output beams produces the vector beam.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vector beam generator using a passively phase stable optical interferometer

Life of this patent

Vector beam generator using a passively phase stable optical interferometer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26