Engineering space-variant inhomogeneous media for polarization control

Novel devices for converting a linear polarization state to radial or azimuthal polarization states are realized by use of space-variant inhomogeneous media on a subwavelength scale. The two designs presented use form birefringence to locally transform the polarization state. The devices are fabricated in a GaAs substrate for operation in the far-infrared wavelength range. The experimental characterization is in good agreement with the designs, demonstrating high conversion efficiency. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.