Engineering space-variant inhomogeneous media for polarization control

Opt Lett. 2004 Aug 1;29(15):1718-20. doi: 10.1364/ol.29.001718.

Abstract

Novel devices for converting a linear polarization state to radial or azimuthal polarization states are realized by use of space-variant inhomogeneous media on a subwavelength scale. The two designs presented use form birefringence to locally transform the polarization state. The devices are fabricated in a GaAs substrate for operation in the far-infrared wavelength range. The experimental characterization is in good agreement with the designs, demonstrating high conversion efficiency.