Liquid-crystal q-plates with a phase core to generation vortex beams with controllable number of singularities

Abstract

Journal Pre-proof Journal Pre-proof Liquid-crystal q-plates with a phase core to generation vortex beams with controllable number of singularities

Е. Melnikova 1 , D. Gorbach 1 , S. Slussarenko Sr. 1 , А. Muravsky 1 , А. Tolstik 1 , S. Slussarenko Jr. 2

1 Physics Department, Belarusian State University, Nezavisimosti Avenue 4, 220030 Minsk, Belarus 2 Centre for Quantum Dynamics and Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland 4111, Australia *Corresponding author: Slussarenko@yahoo.com Abstract: Based on the method of azo dye photoalignment, electrically controlled liquid crystal (LC) q-plates for the generation of a given number of polarization and phase optical singularities have been designed. The results of experimental studies of polarization and phase characteristics of the generated singular beams are in good agreement with the proposed theoretical model. The proposed devices can be adapted for a variety of problems of modern photonics, including implementation of structured illumination microscopy, information coding, optical security technology, microrheology etc.