Reconfigurable beams with arbitrary polarization and shape distributions at a given plane

Methods for generating beams with arbitrary polarization based on the use of liquid crystal displays have recently attracted interest from a wide range of sources. In this paper we present a technique for generating beams with arbitrary polarization and shape distributions at a given plane using a Mach-Zehnder setup. The transverse components of the incident beam are processed independently by means of spatial light modulators placed in each path of the interferometer. The modulators display computer generated holograms designed to dynamically encode any amplitude value and polarization state for each point of the wavefront in a given plane. The steps required to design such beams are described in detail. Several beams performing different polarization and intensity landscapes have been experimentally implemented. The results obtained demonstrate the capability of the proposed technique to tailor the amplitude and polarization of the beam simultaneously.

Synthesis of highly focused fields with circular polarization at any transverse plane

We develop a method for generating focused vector beams with circular polarization at any transverse plane. Based on the Richards-Wolf vector model, we derive analytical expressions to describe the propagation of these set of beams near the focal area. Since the polarization and the amplitude of the input beam are not uniform, an interferometric system capable of generating spatially-variant polarized beams has to be used. In particular, this wavefront is manipulated by means of spatial light modulators displaying computer generated holograms and subsequently focused using a high numerical aperture objective lens. Experimental results using a NA=0.85 system are provided: irradiance and Stokes images of the focused field at different planes near the focal plane are presented and compared with those obtained by numerical simulation.

A digital holography technique for generating beams with arbitrary polarization and shape

A method for generating beams with arbitrary polarization and shape is proposed. Our design requires the use of a Mach-Zehnder set-up combined with translucent liquid crystal displays in each arm of the interferometer; in this way, independent manipulation of each transverse beam components is possible. The target of this communication is to develop a numerical procedure for calculating the holograms required for dynamically encode any amplitude value and polarization state in each point of the wavefront. Several examples demonstrating the capabilities of the method are provided.

Design and Development of re configurable compact cross patch antenna for switchable polarization

Antennas are necessary and vital components of communication and radar systems, but sometimes their inability to adjust to new operating scenarios can limit system performance. Reconfigurable antennas can adjust with changing system requirements or environmental conditions and provide additional levels of functionality that may result in wider instantaneous frequency bandwidths, more extensive scan volumes, and radiation patterns with more desirable side lobe distributions. Their agility and diversity created new horizons for different types of applications especially in cognitive radio, Multiple Input Multiple Output Systems, satellites and many other applications. Reconfigurable antennas satisfy the requirements for increased functionality, such as direction finding, beam steering, radar, control and command, within a confined volume. The intelligence associated with the reconfigurable antennas revolved around switching mechanisms utilized. In the present work, we have investigated frequency reconfigurable polarization diversity antennas using two methods: 1. By using low-loss, high-isolation switches such as PIN diode, the antenna can be structurally reconfigured to maintain the elements near their resonant dimensions for different frequency bands and/or polarization. 2. Secondly, the incorporation of variable capacitors or varactors, to overcome many problems faced in using switches and their biasing. The performances of these designs have been studied using standard simulation tools used in industry/academia and they have been experimentally verified. Antenna design guidelines are also deduced by accounting the resonances. One of the major contributions of the thesis lies in the analysis of the designed antennas using FDTD based numerical computation to validate their performance.

Purity and entanglement of two-photon polarization states generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion

We elucidate the dependence of purity and entanglement of two-photon states generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion on the parameters of the source, such as crystal length, pump beam divergence, frequency bandwidth, and detectors angular aperture. The effect of crystal anisotropy is taken into account. Numerical simulations are presented for two types of commonly used source configurations. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Polarization in fermion scattering

The behaviour of the helicity of an initially left-handed beam of massive fermions first interacting with a Coulomb field and then with a charged scalar particle via a photon exchange is analysed. It is found that in both cases the massive fermions have their helicity flipped, while massless fermions seeem to be unaffected by the electromagnetic field as far as their helicity is concerned.

Polarization observables in virtual compton scattering

Virtual Compton Scattering (VCS) is an important reaction for understanding nucleon structure at low energies. By studying this process, the generalized polarizabilities of the nucleon can be measured. These observables are a generalization of the already known polarizabilities and will permit theoretical models to be challenged on a new level. More specifically, there exist six generalized polarizabilities and in order to disentangle them all, a double polarization experiment must be performed. Within this work, the VCS reaction p(e,e p)gamma was measured at MAMI using the A1 Collaboration three spectrometer setup with Q2=0.33 (GeV/c)2. Using the highly polarized MAMI beam and a recoil proton polarimeter, it was possible to measure both the VCS cross section and the double polarization observables. Already in 2000, the unpolarized VCS cross section was measured at MAMI. In this new experiment, we could confirm the old data and furthermore the double polarization observables were measured for the first time. The data were taken in five periods between 2005 and 2006. In this work, the data were analyzed to extract the cross section and the proton polarization. For the analysis, a maximum likelihood algorithm was developed together with the full simulation of all the analysis steps. The experiment is limited by the low statistics due mainly to the focal plane proton polarimeter efficiency. To overcome this problem, a new determination and parameterization of the carbon analyzing power was performed. The main result of the experiment is the extraction of a new combination of the generalized polarizabilities using the double polarization observables.

Experimental measurements of the scattered-light polarization from different liquid flows

An experimental system designed to measure very low optical powers, of the order of a few picowatts, is presented. Its main aid is to detect the polarisation state of scattered light from a fluid flow, in different angular directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flow. A laser beam incident linearly polarized crosses the fluid flow orthogonally. The scattered light is detected by means of a photodetector situated behind a lineal polarizer whose orientation can be rotated. The outgoing electrical signal is amplified by means of a Mode-lockin amplifier and is digitally processed.

Two design methods for radial line slot antennas with arbitrary or beam pattern

Two design procedures for Radial Line Slot Antennas (RLSAs) with circular polarization and either maximum gain or an arbitrary shaped pattern are proposed. Firstly, a method to design a RLSA with any desired pattern is presented. It is based on an optimization algorithm and some measures to ensure its fast convergence and stability need to be taken. Secondly, a fast technique to calculate the length and the position of every slot in a high gain RLSA with uniform field distribution is described. Both procedures are vali dated with the design of three antennas with different characteristics.

Microwave signal generation using a dual-beam optically injected 1550 nm VCSEL

We report microwave signal generation using a 1550 nm single-mode VCSEL subject to two-frequency optical injection. Double injection locking is achieved. It is found that this generation system is independent of the master lasers polarization.

Reflectarray antennas for dual polarization and broadband telecom satellite applications

A reflectarray antenna with improved performance is proposed to operate in dual-polarization and transmit-receive frequencies in Ku-band for broadcast satellite applications. The reflectarray element contains two orthogonal sets of four coplanar parallel dipoles printed on two surfaces, each set combining lateral and broadside coupling. A 40-cm prototype has been designed, manufactured, and tested. The lengths of the coupled dipoles in the reflectarray cells have been optimized to produce a collimated beam in dual polarization in the transmit and receive bands. The measured radiation patterns confirm the high performance of the antenna in terms of bandwidth (27%), low losses, and low levels of cross polarization. Some preliminary simulations at 11.95 GHz for a 1.2-m antenna with South American coverage are presented to show the potential of the proposed antenna for spaceborne antennas in Ku-band.

Teleportation of continuous-variable polarization states

This paper discusses methods for the optical teleportation of continuous-variable polarization states. We show that using two pairs of entangled beams, generated using four squeezed beams, perfect teleportation of optical polarization states can be performed. Restricting ourselves to three squeezed beams, we demonstrate that polarization state teleportation can still exceed the classical limit. The three-squeezer schemes involve either the use of quantum nondemolition measurement or biased entanglement generated from a single squeezed beam. We analyze the efficacies of these schemes in terms of fidelity, signal transfer coefficients, and quantum correlations.

Orientation of biological cells using plane-polarized gaussian beam optical tweezers

Optical tweezers are widely used for the manipulation of cells and their internal structures. However, the degree of manipulation possible is limited by poor control over the orientation of the trapped cells. We show that it is possible to controllably align or rotate disc-shaped cells-chloroplasts of Spinacia oleracea-in a plane-polarized Gaussian beam trap, using optical torques resulting predominantly from circular polarization induced in the transmitted beam by the non-spherical shape of the cells.

UV-inscription, polarization-dependant loss characteristics and applications of 45° tilted fiber gratings

We have UV-inscribed and theoretically and experimentally analyzed fiber gratings with the structure tilted at 45° and implemented this type of devices as an in-fiber polarizer. A systematic investigation has been carried out on the characterization of 45° tilted fiber gratings (45° TFGs) in terms of the polarization-dependant loss (PDL) and thermal response. The detailed theoretical modeling has revealed a linear correlation between the grating length and the PDL, which has been proved by the experimental results. For the first time, we have examined the UV beam diffraction from a tilted phase mask and designed the UV-inscription system to suit the 45° TFG fabrication. Experimentally, a 24 mm long 45° TFG UV-inscribed in standard telecom single-mode fiber exhibited around 25 dB PDL at 1530 nm and an over ~300 nm bandwidth of PDL spectrum. By the concatenation method, a 44 mm long grating showed a PDL as high as 40 dB that is close to the high polarization extinction ratio of commercial products. Moreover, we have revealed that the PDL of 45° TFGs has low thermal influence, which is desirable for real application devices. Finally, we experimentally demonstrated an all-fiber twist sensor system based on a 45° and an 81° TFG.

UV-inscription, polarization-dependant loss characteristics and applications of 45° tilted fiber gratings

We have UV-inscribed and theoretically and experimentally analyzed fiber gratings with the structure tilted at 45° and implemented this type of devices as an in-fiber polarizer. A systematic investigation has been carried out on the characterization of 45° tilted fiber gratings (45° TFGs) in terms of the polarization-dependant loss (PDL) and thermal response. The detailed theoretical modeling has revealed a linear correlation between the grating length and the PDL, which has been proved by the experimental results. For the first time, we have examined the UV beam diffraction from a tilted phase mask and designed the UV-inscription system to suit the 45° TFG fabrication. Experimentally, a 24 mm long 45° TFG UV-inscribed in standard telecom single-mode fiber exhibited around 25 dB PDL at 1530 nm and an over ~300 nm bandwidth of PDL spectrum. By the concatenation method, a 44 mm long grating showed a PDL as high as 40 dB that is close to the high polarization extinction ratio of commercial products. Moreover, we have revealed that the PDL of 45° TFGs has low thermal influence, which is desirable for real application devices. Finally, we experimentally demonstrated an all-fiber twist sensor system based on a 45° and an 81° TFG.