6533b86efe1ef96bd12cbd5a
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Theory for the control of dark rays by means of discrete symmetry diffractive elements
M A García-marchA Ferrandosubject
Physicsbusiness.industryPhase (waves)Rotational symmetryStructure (category theory)Order (ring theory)Optical fieldAtomic and Molecular Physics and OpticsElectronic Optical and Magnetic MaterialsClassical mechanicsOpticsGravitational singularityElement (category theory)businessDiscrete symmetrydescription
We present an analytical theory that describes the disintegration of a highly charged phase singularity by the presence of a thin discrete symmetry diffractive element, i.e., an optical diffractive element possessing rotational symmetry of finite order. The process is described in terms of dark rays, defined as the trajectories where there is no light, i.e., those for which the complex optical field vanishes. We provide explicit analytical expressions for the equations that describe the dark ray trajectories. We show that dark rays follow straight line trajectories asymptotically, like ordinary rays, but with properties which differ in essential features with respect to their bright counterparts. We finally analyze the manipulation and routing of phase singularities using controlled illumination and the structure of the discrete symmetry diffractive element.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-04-01 | Journal of Optics |