S-waveplate is a super-structured space-variant waveplate which converts linear polarization to azimuthal or radial polarization, and circular polarization to optical vortex.
Radial polarization converter S-waveplate is the most common availabe space-variant waveplate. Fabrication of S-waveplate is based on inscription of self-organized nanogratings inside fused silica glass using a femtosecond laser.
Radial polarization converter features:
Converts linear polarization to radial polarization or azimuthal
Converts circular polarization to optical vortex
High damage threshold
55-90% transmission (wavelength dependent)
Large aperture (up to 15 mm; standard is 6 mm)
Continuous pattern – no segments
Applications:
STED microscopy (ref. No. 20)
Micromachining (ref. No. 1, 2, 12)
Microdrilling high-aspect-ratio channels (ref. No. 13)
Generate any cylindrical vector vortex (ref. No. 17)
Multiple particle trapping (ref. No. 14). Video link
Micro-mill driven by optical tweezers (ref. No. 14). Video link
Use as intracavity polarization-controlling element in cladding-pumped ytterbium doped fiber laser for radially polarized output beam generation (ref. No. 15)
Observation of photonic spin Hall effect with rotational symmetry breaking (ref. No. 16)
Realization of polarization evolution on higher-order Poincaré sphere (ref. No. 18)
Direct transformation of linearly polarized Gaussian beam into vector-vortex beams with various spatial patterns (ref. No. 19)
Engineering of novel optical materials for applications in security and data storage with highly improved marking capacity due to fine nanoparticle position control (ref. No. 21)
Addition and subtraction of optical orbital angular momentum (ref. No. 22)
Hybrid classical-quantum communication (ref. No. 23)
Acknowledgment
Southampton University applied for patent application and appointed exclusivity in commercializing activities for Altechna R&D Ltd. Custom development of machining heads and optical assemblies incorporating the radial/azimuthal polarizer is possible on request.
