title: Classical and quantum properties of cylindrically polarized states of light.
abstract: We investigate theoretical properties of beams of light with non-uniform polarization patterns. Specifically, we determine all possible configurations of cylindrically polarized modes (CPMs) of the electromagnetic field, calculate their total angular momentum and highlight the subtleties of their structure. Furthermore, a hybrid spatio-polarization description for such modes is introduced and developed. In particular, two independent Poincaré spheres have been introduced to represent simultaneously the polarization and spatial degree of freedom of CPMs. Possible mode-to-mode transformations accomplishable with the help of Bconventional polarization and spatial phase retarders are shown within this representation. Moreover, the importance of these CPMs in the quantum optics domain due to their classical features is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Günter-Scharowsky-Str. 1/Bau 24, 91058 Erlangen, Germany. annemarie.holleczek@mpl.mpg.de
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holleczek
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marquardt
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leuchs