We present a method to tailor not only amplitude and phase of a complex light field, but also the transverse states of polarization. Starting from the implementation of spatially inhomogeneous distributions of polarization, so called Poincaré beams, we realized a holographic optical technique that allows arbitrarily modulating the states of polarization by a single phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM). Moreover, the effective amplitude modulation of higher order beams performed by a phase-only SLM is shown. We will demonstrate the capabilities of our method ranging from the modulation of higher order Gaussian modes including desired polarization characteristics to the generation of polarization singularities at arbitrary points in the transverse plane of Poincaré beams.

Date Published: 10 March 2015
PDF: 13 pages
Proc. SPIE 9379, Complex Light and Optical Forces IX, 937908 (10 March 2015); doi: 10.1117/12.2078724

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9379:
Complex Light and Optical Forces IX
Enrique J. Galvez; Jesper Glückstad; David L. Andrews, Editor(s)