Transformation of vector beams with radial and azimuthal polarizations in biaxial crystals

Abstract

We present both experimentally and theoretically the transformation of radially and azimuthally polarized vector beams when they propagate through a biaxial crystal and are transformed by the conical refraction phenomenon. We show that, at the focal plane, the transverse pattern is formed by a ring-like light structure with an azimuthal node, being this node found at diametrically opposite points of the ring for radial/azimuthal polarizations. We also prove that the state of polarization of the transformed beams is conical refraction-like, i.e. that every two diametrically opposite points of the light ring are linearly orthogonally polarized.

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