title: Generation and dynamics of optical beams with polarization singularities.
abstract: We present a convenient method to generate vector beams of light having polarization singularities on their axis, via partial spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion in a suitably patterned liquid crystal cell. The resulting polarization patterns exhibit a C-point on the beam axis and an L-line loop around it, and may have different geometrical structures such as "lemon", "star", and "spiral". Our generation method allows us to control the radius of L-line loop around the central C-point. Moreover, we investigate the free-air propagation of these fields across a Rayleigh range.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso di Monte S. Angelo, 80126 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cardano
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marrucci
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Lisio
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santamato
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation