Abstract-Terahertz vortex beam generator based on a photopatterned large birefringence liquid crystal

Shijun Ge, Peng Chen, Zhixiong Shen, Wenfeng Sun, Xinke Wang, Wei Hu, Yan Zhang, and Yanqing Lu

https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-25-11-12349

A terahertz (THz) q-plate is proposed and demonstrated to generate THz vortex beams. It is composed of a large birefringence liquid crystal (LC) with spatially-varying director distribution sandwiched by two pieces of fused silica glass. A polarization-sensitive alignment agent is photopatterned to carry out the specific LC director distribution. THz vortex beams with different topological charges are characterized with a THz digital holographic imaging system. The intensity and phase distributions consistent with theoretical analyses are obtained. Besides, an eight-lobed intensity distribution is observed corresponding to the vertical polarization component of a cylindrical vector beam. This work may inspire novel THz applications.

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