title: Three-dimensional, arbitrary orientation of focal polarization.
abstract: We demonstrate a simple setup for generating a three-dimensional arbitrary orientation of the polarization vector in a laser focus. The key component is the superposition of a linearly and a radially polarized laser beam, which both can be controlled individually in intensity and relative phase. We exemplify the usefulness of this setup by determining the spatial orientation of a single silver nanorod in three-dimensional space by recording the angle-variable backscattered light intensity.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Angewandte Photophysik, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany. polk@iet.ntnu.no
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Olk
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Härtling
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kullock
authors.forename: Lukas M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Eng