Abstract
In this work, we demonstrate a simple setup to generate and measure arbitrary vector beams that are tightly focused. The vector beams are created with a spatial light modulator and focused with a microscope objective with an effective numerical aperture of 1.2. The transverse polarization components (E
x
, E
y
) of the tightly focused vector beams are measured with three-step interferometry. The axial component E
z
is reconstructed using the transverse fields with Gauss's law. We measure beams with the following polarization states: circular, radial, azimuthal, spiral, flower, and spider web.
Funder
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
CIC-UNAM
Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Subject
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics