Ultrasmall focusing spot with a long depth of focus based on polarization and phase modulation

A design for focusing an incoming light into an ultrasmall spot with a long depth of focus is proposed. We use a phase plate with three concentric regions to modulate the incoming light from radial polarization into outward-inward-outward polarization. The analysis shows that the design is more suitable for a lens with a high numerical aperture because much energy is concentrated in the main lobe of the focus spot. (C) 2003 Optical Society of America.