Generating a 64 × 64 beam lattice by geometric phase modulation from arbitrary incident polarizations

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Structured optical fields, such as laser beam lattices, are crucial for diverse scientific and technological applications.
• Existing methods for generating beam lattices often have limitations regarding polarization dependence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel geometric phase element capable of generating high-dimensional laser beam lattices.
• To overcome the polarization sensitivity limitations of current beam lattice generation techniques.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a geometric phase element using polymerized liquid crystals.
• Characterization of the element's ability to transform Gaussian beams into a 64x64 beam lattice.
• Testing the element's performance with various incident polarizations.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated a 64x64 beam lattice with high performance.
• Demonstrated that the element introduces identical phase modulations for arbitrary incident polarizations.
• Observed a fluctuation of approximately 60% in lattice uniformity across different polarizations, aligning with predictions.

Conclusions:

• The proposed polymerized liquid crystal element offers a robust method for generating high-dimensional beam lattices.
• This advancement enables beam lattice generation with arbitrary polarizations, expanding potential applications.
• The work paves the way for novel high-dimensional structured optical fields and advanced applications.