Abstract
Ladder operators are introduced in SU(2) parameter space to analyze the space-variant Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase. The spin and orbital angular momentum transfers to a wave passing through the PB phase optical elements are understood in terms of the PB phase. Space-variant PB phase structures are identified in polarization grating and cholesteric liquid crystal, providing an explanation for the beam propagation direction alteration. A simultaneous occurrence of the wavefront shaping and the beam propagation direction alteration is demonstrated experimentally.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 491-494 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of the Optical Society of America B: Optical Physics |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2008 |