Generation of multiple vector beams through cascaded beam displacers and a segmented digital hologram

Abstract

Complex vector light modes, characterized by a non-uniform transverse polarization distribution, have pervaded a wide range of research fields. In this study, we propose an approach that enables the simultaneous generation of multiple vector beams based on a spatially segmented digital hologram and two or more cascaded beam displacers. More precisely, an input beam is separated into multiple parallel copies spatially separated, which are then sent to the center of each segmented hologram, enabling independent modulation of each beam. The modulated beams are then judiciously recombined with a beam displacer to generate multiple vector modes in a simultaneous way. We demonstrated our technique with two arbitrary vector modes but the technique can be easily extended to more by inserting additional beam displacers. To assess the quality of the generated vector modes, we employed Stokes polarimetry to reconstruct their transverse polarization distribution and to measure their degree of non-separability. We envision that this technique will find significant applications in various fields, including optical communications, optical sensing, and optical tweezers to mention a few.