Handedness control in polarization lattice fields by using spiral phase filters

Abstract

In scalar optics, a spiral phase plate (SPP) spatial filter, independent of its polarity, can perform radial Hilbert transform for isotropic edge enhancement of objects. The same 4f spatial filter setup is also useful to realize multiple-beam interference. However, the polarity of the SPP phase filter can decide the handedness of certain polarization lattice fields created by multiple-beam interference. It is interesting to note that a phase element is exhibiting polarization control on structured fields. We demonstrate this by creating few lattice structures with and without C-point singularities. Experimental and simulation results are presented. The current study may be useful in optical chirality measurement, signal processing, and structured illumination microscopy.