Tailoring ultra-broadband vector beams via programming the electric field vector of light

Ultra-broadband holography in visible and infrared regions with full-polarization nondispersive response

Holography is promising to fully record and reconstruct the fundamental properties of light, while the limitations of working bandwidth, allowed polarization states, and dispersive response impede further advances in the integration level and functionality. Here, we propose an ultra-broadband holography based on twisted nematic liquid crystals (TNLCs), which can efficiently work in both the visible and infrared regions with a working spectrum of over 1000 nm. The underlying physics is that the electric field vector of light through TNLCs can be parallelly manipulated in the broad spectral range, thus enabling to build the ultra-broadband TNLC hologram by dynamic photopatterning. Furthermore, by introducing a simple nematic liquid crystal (NLC) element, the cascaded device allows for an excellent nondispersive polarization-maintaining performance that can adapt to full-polarization incidence. We expect our proposed methodology of holography may inspire new avenues for usages in polarization imaging, augmented/virtual reality display, and optical encryption.

Collecting, transporting and sorting micro-particles via the optical slings generated by a liquid crystal q(φ)-plate

We disclose a transporting/collecting optical sling generated by a liquid crystal geometric phase optical element with spatial variant topological charge, which shows the intriguing repelling/indrawing effect on the micro-particle along the spiral orbit. Two proof-of-concept prototypes, i.e., an optical conveyor and a particle collector, are demonstrated. Based on the distinct dynamic characteristics of the micro-particles in different sizes, we conceptually propose a design for particle sorting. Thus, our proposed method to generate a spiral optical sling with spatial variant orbital angular momentum for on-demand collecting, transporting and sorting micro-particles is substantiated, which can find extensive applications in bio-medicine, micro-biology, etc.