Effect of linear polarizers on highly focused spirally polarized fields

Linear polarizers are commonly used for projecting the direction of the electric field of a transverse paraxial beam on the direction of the polarizer axis. However, the use of these devices with highly convergent field poses a practical problem because the non transversal character of electric fiel...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Martínez-Herrero, Rosario, Maluenda Niubó, David, Juvells Prades, Ignacio, Carnicer González, Arturo
Format: article
Status:Versión aceptada para publicación
Publication Date:2017
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/118316
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/118316
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Polarització (Llum)
Òptica física
Polarization (Light)
Physical optics
Description
Summary:Linear polarizers are commonly used for projecting the direction of the electric field of a transverse paraxial beam on the direction of the polarizer axis. However, the use of these devices with highly convergent field poses a practical problem because the non transversal character of electric field. In this article, we discuss the behavior of highly focused beams with spiral polarization when they pass through a polarizer. Interestingly, beams with azimuthal polarization display a non negligible irradiance in the direction of propagation after passing through a polarizer. On top of that, we found that the irradiance of a highly focused radially polarized beam after a polarizer is notably different from the projection of the field on the direction of the polarizer axis.