S-Waveplate Radial Polarization Converter
Fabrication of S-waveplate is based on the inscription of self-organized nanograting’s inside fused silica glass using a femtosecond laser.
Beams with radial or azimuthal polarization attract significant interest due to unique optical properties associated with their inherent symmetry. Such beams enable resolution below the diffraction limit and interact without the undesirable anisotropy produced by linearly polarized light.
S-waveplate can be beneficial in polarization-sensitive applications. For example, a radially polarized beam is more efficient at drilling and cutting high-aspect-ratio features in metals. Vector beams are also applicable in optical tweezers, laser micromachining, STED microscopy, and two-photon-excitation fluorescence microscopy.
Features & Benefits:
- Allows focusing into smaller spot size (using NA > 0.9)
- Ensures the same machining properties in all directions
- Ensures the same cutting speed in all directions
- Enable ring-shaped intensity distribution in focus (at NA <0.8)
- Increases cutting speed
- Suitable for high LIDT applications
- Suitable for high power lasers
Applications:
- STED microscopy
- Micromachining
- Micro drilling high-aspect-ratio channels
- Generate any cylindrical vector vortex
- Multiple particle trapping
- Micro-mill is driven by optical tweezers
- Use as an intracavity polarization-controlling element in cladding-pumped ytterbium-doped fiber laser for radially polarized output beam generation
