title: Generation of optical vector beams with a diffractive optical element interferometer.
abstract: We present a novel approach to generating radially and azimuthally polarized vector beams that utilize an interferometer constructed from two identical diffractive optical elements. The measured polarization properties of four vector beam states and their phase relationships are in good agreement with theoretical expectations. This interferometer is passively phase stable and robust, making it suitable for linear and nonlinear optical (superresolution) microscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Kimani C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Toussaint
authors.forename: Sungnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Justin E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jureller
authors.forename: Norbert F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Scherer