title: Topological shaping of light by closed-path nanoslits.
abstract: We propose a discrete set of continuous deformation of a circular nanoslit to generate and control optical vortices at the microscopic scale. The process relies on the interplay between the spin and orbital angular momentum degrees of freedom of light mediated by appropriate closed-path nanoslits milled on a thin gold film. Topological shaping of light is experimentally demonstrated in the visible domain. Moreover, all experimental observations are quantitatively validated by a simple model that takes into account the transverse manipulation of the optical phase via the space-variant form birefringence of subwavelength slits.
authors.affiliation: Université Bordeaux, CNRS, Laboratoire Ondes et Matière d'Aquitaine, UMR 5798, F-33400 Talence, France.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brasselet
authors.forename: Gediminas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gervinskas
authors.forename: Gediminas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seniutinas
authors.forename: Saulius
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juodkazis