Interplay of vortex and non-vortex beam components in a variable two-crystal cascade conical refraction

Area of Science:

• Optics
• Condensed Matter Physics

Background:

• Conical refraction in biaxial crystals splits a light beam along optical axes.
• Cascade arrangements enhance control over beam properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the impact of a variable cascade setup on conical refraction.
• Analyze the internal structure of light beams in modified cascade systems.
• Introduce a generalized theory for cascade conical refraction.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis combining cascade conical refraction with wave-optical imaging.
• Numerical simulations to model beam propagation and structure.
• Experimental validation of simulation results.

Main Results:

• Variable cascade imaging significantly alters the output beam's vortex and non-vortex components.
• In degenerate cases, vortex components persist in variable cascades, unlike traditional setups.
• Lens focal length influences the power fraction of vortex components.

Conclusions:

• Variable cascade conical refraction offers enhanced control over light beam characteristics.
• The imaging stage is crucial for manipulating vortex beam components.
• The concept of generalized cascade conical refraction provides a broader theoretical framework.