Spectropolarimetric properties of vortex retarders

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Polarimetry
• Wave Optics

Background:

• Vortex retarders possess spatially varying fast axes, influencing beam polarization.
• They are known to generate specific Laguerre-Gaussian beams (TEM10, TEM20).
• Existing research often limits characterization to specific operational wavelengths.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively characterize the spectropolarimetric properties of zero-order half-wave vortex retarders.
• To investigate their behavior across a broad wavelength range (300-1100 nm).
• To provide data for understanding retarder performance beyond their designed wavelengths.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Mueller matrix spectropolarimeter with dual-rotating retarders.
• Measured polarization properties of four distinct half-wave vortex retarders.
• Covered a wide spectral range from 300 nm to 1100 nm.

Main Results:

• Detailed spectral polarimetric data for vortex retarders was acquired.
• The study quantified retarder performance across a broad wavelength spectrum.
• Variations in polarimetric properties as a function of wavelength were observed.

Conclusions:

• The measured data expands the understanding of vortex retarder spectral characteristics.
• This provides crucial information for applications utilizing vortex retarders outside their nominal wavelengths.
• The findings contribute to a more complete description of these optical components.