The precise determination of the polarization state of light is fundamental for a vast variety of applications in remote sensing, astronomy, optics and terahertz technology, to name just a few. Typically, polarization characterization is performed by using a combination of multiple optical devices such as beam splitters, polarizers, and waveplates. Moreover, to achieve high-precision, balanced photodetectors and lock-in amplifiers are employed, thus contributing to increasing system complexity. Here, a technique for polarization rotation measurements with a dynamic range of 180° and a sensitivity of about 10−2 degrees is realized using a properly designed metasurface. Such device generates a vector beam with an azimuthally-dependent polarization distribution, as a result of the superposition of two vortex beams carrying opposite orbital angular momenta (ℓ = ±30). After propagation through a linear polarizer, the spatial intensity profile of such a beam turns into 60 lobes. By tracking the displacement of only two of these lobes on a camera, the rotation of the input polarization state can be retrieved with high resolution. The proposed approach offers a new route toward the development of compact high-precision polarimeters and can also be exploited in quantum information processing, optical communications, as well as nonlinear and chiral optics.

Yue F., Aglieri V., Piccoli R., Macaluso R., Toma A., Morandotti R., et al. (2020). Highly Sensitive Polarization Rotation Measurement through a High-Order Vector Beam Generated by a Metasurface. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES, 5(5), 1-6 [10.1002/admt.201901008].

Highly Sensitive Polarization Rotation Measurement through a High-Order Vector Beam Generated by a Metasurface

Aglieri V.;Macaluso R.;
2020-01-01

Abstract

The precise determination of the polarization state of light is fundamental for a vast variety of applications in remote sensing, astronomy, optics and terahertz technology, to name just a few. Typically, polarization characterization is performed by using a combination of multiple optical devices such as beam splitters, polarizers, and waveplates. Moreover, to achieve high-precision, balanced photodetectors and lock-in amplifiers are employed, thus contributing to increasing system complexity. Here, a technique for polarization rotation measurements with a dynamic range of 180° and a sensitivity of about 10−2 degrees is realized using a properly designed metasurface. Such device generates a vector beam with an azimuthally-dependent polarization distribution, as a result of the superposition of two vortex beams carrying opposite orbital angular momenta (ℓ = ±30). After propagation through a linear polarizer, the spatial intensity profile of such a beam turns into 60 lobes. By tracking the displacement of only two of these lobes on a camera, the rotation of the input polarization state can be retrieved with high resolution. The proposed approach offers a new route toward the development of compact high-precision polarimeters and can also be exploited in quantum information processing, optical communications, as well as nonlinear and chiral optics.
2020
Yue F., Aglieri V., Piccoli R., Macaluso R., Toma A., Morandotti R., et al. (2020). Highly Sensitive Polarization Rotation Measurement through a High-Order Vector Beam Generated by a Metasurface. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES, 5(5), 1-6 [10.1002/admt.201901008].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/414739
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