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Updated: May 30, 2026

Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation
Published on: February 4, 2017
Highly convergent focusing of light based on rotating dipole polarization
Colin J R Sheppard1, Shakil Rehman
1Division of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract:
Focusing properties of transverse circular polarization modes that bring light to a small focal spot are investigated. Two particular illumination polarization distributions are discussed. Rotating electric dipole polarization results in a central lobe diameter 8% smaller than for the circularly polarized aplanatic case at a NA of 0.95 in air and is also smaller than for radial polarization at NAs less than 0.90. Azimuthal polarization with a phase singularity of charge unity results in a small central lobe width that is smaller than that produced by focusing radially polarized light, having a width that is 17% smaller than for circularly polarized illumination at a NA of 0.95.
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