Polarization singularity proliferation in three-dimensional ellipse fields
Optics Letters, Vol. 30, Issue 4, pp. 433-435 (2005)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OL.30.000433
Acrobat PDF (636 KB)
Abstract
The classical singularities of elliptically polarized light are points of circular (linear) polarization, characterized by a half-integer (integer) topological index. On average, in any plane of a random ellipse field there is of the order of one each of these classical singularities per coherence area. It is shown that every ellipse in such a field is a multiple singularity characterized by nine different topological indices: Three indices characterize rotations of the principal axis system of the surrounding ellipses, and six indices characterize a one- or two-turn spiral precession of these axes. The nine indices can divide the field into 32,768 different volumes with different structures separated by singular surfaces (grain boundaries) on which an index becomes undefined. This unprecedented proliferation of singularities and structures can occur in other three-dimensional systems in which individual elements are described by unique principal axis systems, for example, liquid crystals, and should be sought in such systems.
© 2005 Optical Society of America
OCIS Codes
(030.0030) Coherence and statistical optics : Coherence and statistical optics
(030.1670) Coherence and statistical optics : Coherent optical effects
(260.0260) Physical optics : Physical optics
(260.2130) Physical optics : Ellipsometry and polarimetry
(260.5430) Physical optics : Polarization
(350.5030) Other areas of optics : Phase
Citation
Isaac Freund, "Polarization singularity proliferation in three-dimensional ellipse
fields," Opt. Lett. 30, 433-435 (2005)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ol/abstract.cfm?URI=ol-30-4-433
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription
Related Journal Articles 
Related Conference Papers
- Pulse-Distortion in EIT Medium
- Polarized Temporal Impulse Responses for Scattering Media from Speckle Frequency Correlations
- Space-Variant Polarization Manipulation for Polarimetric Measurement by use of Subwavelength Gratings
- Demonstration of a fourth order polarimeter using quadratic nonlinear detection
- The concept of polarization in near field optics
« Previous Article | Next Article »
OSA is a member of 