Higher-Order Poincaré Sphere, Stokes Parameters, and the Angular Momentum of Light

Giovanni Milione, H. I. Sztul, D. A. Nolan, and R. R. Alfano
Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 053601 – Published 25 July 2011

Abstract

A higher-order Poincaré sphere and Stokes parameter representation of the higher-order states of polarization of vector vortex beams that includes radial and azimuthal polarized cylindrical vector beams is presented. The higher-order Poincaré sphere is constructed by naturally extending the Jones vector basis of plane wave polarization in terms of optical spin angular momentum to the total optical angular momentum that includes higher dimensional orbital angular momentum. The salient properties of this representation are illustrated by its ability to describe the higher-order modes of optical fiber waveguides, more exotic vector beams, and a higher-order Pancharatnam-Berry geometric phase.

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  • Received 21 March 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.053601

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Giovanni Milione1, H. I. Sztul1, D. A. Nolan2, and R. R. Alfano1,*

  • 1The City College of New York of the City University of New York, 160 Convent Avenue New York, New York 10031, USA
  • 2Corning Incorporated, Sullivan Park, Corning, New York 14831, USA

  • *ralfano@sci.ccny.cuny.edu

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Issue

Vol. 107, Iss. 5 — 29 July 2011

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