Optical fields whose coherence and/or polarization properties appear to change under propagation have intrigued researchers for many years. We describe and experimentally demonstrate a class of optical fields whose polarization content at any transverse plane spans a disk-like region within the Poincaré sphere. When examined through a paraxial focal region, the disk rotates under propagation, spanning all possible states of polarization. We map the change in Stokes parameters through focus for each case, comparing experiment with the theoretical predictions.

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1. A. M. Beckley, T. G. Brown, and M. A. Alonso, “Full Poincaré beams,” Opt. Express18, 10777–10785 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. G. M. Lerman, L. Stern, and U. Levy, “Generation and tight focusing of hybridly polarized vector beams,” Opt. Express18, 27650–27657 (2010). [CrossRef]
3. H. Chen, J. Hao, B-F Zhang, J. Xu, J. Ding, and H-T Wang, “Generation of vector beam with space-variant distribution of both polarization and phase,” Opt. Lett.36, 3179–3181 (2011) [CrossRef]
4. W. Han, W. Cheng, and Q. Zhan, “Flattop focusing with full Poincaré beams under low numerical aperture illumination,” Opt. Lett.36, 1605–1607 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. J. C. Gutiérrez-Vega, “Pancharatnam-Berry phase of optical systems,” Opt. Lett.36, 1143–1145 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. I. Mokhun, R. Brandel, and Ju. Viktorovskaya, “Angular momentum of electromagnetic field in areas of polarization singularities,” Ukr. J. Phys. Opt.7, 63–73 (2006). [CrossRef]
7. I. Mokhun and R. Khrobatin, “Shift of application point of angular momentum in the area of elementary polarization singularity,” J. Opt. A: Pure and Appl. Opt.10, 1–10 (2008). [CrossRef]
8. A. K. Spilman and T. G. Brown, “Stress birefringent, space-variant wave plates for vortex illumination,” Appl. Opt.26, 61–66 (2007). [CrossRef]
9. A. K. Spilman, A. M. Beckley, and T. G. Brown, “Focal splitting and optical vortex structure induced by stress birefringence” Proc. SPIE6667, 666701 (2007).
10. A. K. Spilman and T. G. Brown, “Stress-induced focal splitting,” Opt. Express15, 8411–8421 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. T. G. Brown and Q. Zhan, “Introduction: Unconventional Polarization States of Light Focus Issue,” Opt. Express18, 10775–10776 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Opt.

• A. K. Spilman and T. G. Brown, “Stress birefringent, space-variant wave plates for vortex illumination,” Appl. Opt.26, 61–66 (2007). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. A: Pure and Appl. Opt.

• I. Mokhun and R. Khrobatin, “Shift of application point of angular momentum in the area of elementary polarization singularity,” J. Opt. A: Pure and Appl. Opt.10, 1–10 (2008). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• A. K. Spilman and T. G. Brown, “Stress-induced focal splitting,” Opt. Express15, 8411–8421 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• T. G. Brown and Q. Zhan, “Introduction: Unconventional Polarization States of Light Focus Issue,” Opt. Express18, 10775–10776 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. M. Beckley, T. G. Brown, and M. A. Alonso, “Full Poincaré beams,” Opt. Express18, 10777–10785 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• G. M. Lerman, L. Stern, and U. Levy, “Generation and tight focusing of hybridly polarized vector beams,” Opt. Express18, 27650–27657 (2010). [CrossRef]

Opt. Lett.

• H. Chen, J. Hao, B-F Zhang, J. Xu, J. Ding, and H-T Wang, “Generation of vector beam with space-variant distribution of both polarization and phase,” Opt. Lett.36, 3179–3181 (2011) [CrossRef]
• W. Han, W. Cheng, and Q. Zhan, “Flattop focusing with full Poincaré beams under low numerical aperture illumination,” Opt. Lett.36, 1605–1607 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• J. C. Gutiérrez-Vega, “Pancharatnam-Berry phase of optical systems,” Opt. Lett.36, 1143–1145 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Proc. SPIE

• A. K. Spilman, A. M. Beckley, and T. G. Brown, “Focal splitting and optical vortex structure induced by stress birefringence” Proc. SPIE6667, 666701 (2007).

Ukr. J. Phys. Opt.

• I. Mokhun, R. Brandel, and Ju. Viktorovskaya, “Angular momentum of electromagnetic field in areas of polarization singularities,” Ukr. J. Phys. Opt.7, 63–73 (2006). [CrossRef]

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