Flexible Manipulation of the Polarization Conversions in a Structured Vector Field in Free Space

The conversion between different polarizations generally requires an optical element or an optical system. We demonstrate, theoretically and experimentally, that the conversion between different states of polarization (SoP) can be flexibly manipulated in a structured optical field by itself. During the structured optical field propagation in free space, any two orthogonal polarizations can be generated and auto-focus at any desired propagation positions by purposely designing the initial SoP distribution and a caustic phase in the field cross-section. The experiment arrangement combines a caustic-based approach and a 4f optical system. This approach provides a way to flexibly manipulate the polarization conversions in free space propagation by the optical field itself (without any physical element along the propagation path), may lead to more complex and flexible vectorial manipulations of an optical field scenarios and potential applications in corresponding areas.