New paper in Optics Letters – Analysis of a q-plate in a reflection geometry to double the q-value
We published a new paper in Optics Letters entitled «Performance of a q-pate tunable retarder in reflection for the switchable generation of both first- and second-order vector beams«. The paper appeared published in the first issue of OL in 2016: link
Here we examine the performance of a tunable liquid crystal q-plate in a reflective geometry. When the device is tuned to a half-wave retardance, it operates as a q-plate with twice the value (2q) by adding a quarter-wave retarder between the mirror and the q-plate. However, when the device is tuned to a quarter-wave retardance, it acts as the original q-plate without the retarder. We show experimental results are shown. Using an input tunable polarization state generator, the system allows the switchable production of all states on both the first- and second-order Poincaré spheres.
This work has been done during the stay of Maria M. Sanchez-López and Ignacio Moreno at SDSU during Summer 2015.