Capturing Vector Light Field on Azo Molecular Glass Submicron Pillar Array for Polarization Recording and Creating Optical Functional Surfaces

Vector light fields possessing spatial-variant states of polarization (SOPs) have attracted great research interest for various emerging applications. In this work, the responses of submicron pillar arrays of an azo molecular glass (IA-Chol) to vector light fields are systematically investigated by using laser beams with different topological charges. The spatial-variant SOPs in the illuminated areas are recorded by directional pillar deformations along the local electric field oscillation directions, and uncovered by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The degrees of pillar deformations are proven to be correlated to the intensity distributions of the vector beams in the transverse planes. The pillar deformations caused by the vector beam irradiations generate several optical effects related to the surface structures, as revealed by optical microscopy, polarizing optical microscopy, and diffraction measurements. Based on the understanding, structural colors covering a wide spectral range are created for the pillar arrays after irradiated with the vector beams. The complex images with various structural colors are produced by the irradiations with vector beams through photomasks. These investigations reveal the unique correlations between the pillar deformations and transverse polarization morphologies of vector beams and demonstrate a promising approach to fabricate optical functional surfaces. Azo Molecular Glass Submicron Pillar Array is explored to map the polarization morphology of vector light field, which is recorded by directional pillar deformations in the transverse plane and read out by SEM and AFM. The optical effects produced by the pillar deformations are also investigated for vector beam characterization and structural color surface development.image

Automated summary

In this study, the response of submicron pillar arrays to vector light fields with spatial-variant states of polarization is systematically investigated. The pillar deformations caused by the vector beam irradiations generate various optical effects and can be used to create structural colors on the pillar arrays. This research reveals the unique correlations between the pillar deformations and transverse polarization morphologies of vector beams and demonstrates a promising approach to fabricate optical functional surfaces.