title: Manipulation of the Pancharatnam phase in vectorial vortices.
abstract: Linearly polarized vectorial vortices are analyzed according to their Pancharatnam phase and experimentally demonstrated using a geometric phase element consisting of space-variant subwavelength gratings. It is shown that in the absence of a Pancharatnam phase, stable vectorial vortices that have no angular momentum arise. In contrast, if a Pancharatnam phase is present the vectorial vortices have orbital angular momentum and collapse upon propagation.
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niv
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biener
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kleiner
authors.forename: Erez
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hasman