An intuitive approach to structuring the three electric field components of light
This paper presents intuitive interpretations of tightly focused beams of light by drawing analogies with two-dimensional electrostatics, magnetostatics and fluid dynamics. We use a Helmholtz decomposition of the transverse electric field components in the transverse plane to introduce generalized r...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2019-01-01
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| Series: | New Journal of Physics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aaf711 |
| _version_ | 1797750216643837952 |
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| author | F Maucher S Skupin S A Gardiner I G Hughes |
| author_facet | F Maucher S Skupin S A Gardiner I G Hughes |
| author_sort | F Maucher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents intuitive interpretations of tightly focused beams of light by drawing analogies with two-dimensional electrostatics, magnetostatics and fluid dynamics. We use a Helmholtz decomposition of the transverse electric field components in the transverse plane to introduce generalized radial and azimuthal polarization states. This reveals the interplay between transverse and longitudinal electric field components in a transparent fashion. Our approach yields a comprehensive understanding of tightly focused laser beams, which we illustrate through several insightful examples. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:29:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5e91a9add04f48e38a6d6fd635e5e684 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1367-2630 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:29:26Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Journal of Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-5e91a9add04f48e38a6d6fd635e5e6842023-08-08T15:33:15ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302019-01-0121101303210.1088/1367-2630/aaf711An intuitive approach to structuring the three electric field components of lightF Maucher0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5808-3967S Skupin1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9215-1150S A Gardiner2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5939-4612I G Hughes3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6322-6435Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University , Ny Munkegade 120, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; Joint Quantum Centre (JQC) Durham-Newcastle, Department of Physics, Durham University , Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom; Department of Mathematical Sciences, Durham University , Durham DH1 3LE, United KingdomUniv. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 , CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622, Villeurbanne, FranceJoint Quantum Centre (JQC) Durham-Newcastle, Department of Physics, Durham University , Durham DH1 3LE, United KingdomJoint Quantum Centre (JQC) Durham-Newcastle, Department of Physics, Durham University , Durham DH1 3LE, United KingdomThis paper presents intuitive interpretations of tightly focused beams of light by drawing analogies with two-dimensional electrostatics, magnetostatics and fluid dynamics. We use a Helmholtz decomposition of the transverse electric field components in the transverse plane to introduce generalized radial and azimuthal polarization states. This reveals the interplay between transverse and longitudinal electric field components in a transparent fashion. Our approach yields a comprehensive understanding of tightly focused laser beams, which we illustrate through several insightful examples.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aaf711electromagnetic opticslaser beam shapingoptical vorticestighly focused beams |
| spellingShingle | F Maucher S Skupin S A Gardiner I G Hughes An intuitive approach to structuring the three electric field components of light New Journal of Physics electromagnetic optics laser beam shaping optical vortices tighly focused beams |
| title | An intuitive approach to structuring the three electric field components of light |
| title_full | An intuitive approach to structuring the three electric field components of light |
| title_fullStr | An intuitive approach to structuring the three electric field components of light |
| title_full_unstemmed | An intuitive approach to structuring the three electric field components of light |
| title_short | An intuitive approach to structuring the three electric field components of light |
| title_sort | intuitive approach to structuring the three electric field components of light |
| topic | electromagnetic optics laser beam shaping optical vortices tighly focused beams |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aaf711 |
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