Topologically protected bound states in photonic parity-time-symmetric crystals.

Parity-time (PT)-symmetric crystals are a class of non-Hermitian systems that allow, for example, the existence of modes with real propagation constants, for self-orthogonality of propagating modes, and for uni-directional invisibility at defects. Photonic PT-symmetric systems that also support topological states could be useful for shaping and routing light waves. However, it is currently debated whether topological interface states can exist at all in PT-symmetric systems. Here, we show theoretically and demonstrate experimentally the existence of such states: states that are localized at the interface between two topologically distinct PT-symmetric photonic lattices. We find analytical closed form solutions of topological PT-symmetric interface states, and observe them through fluorescence microscopy in a passive PT-symmetric dimerized photonic lattice. Our results are relevant towards approaches to localize light on the interface between non-Hermitian crystals.

Spatially variable retardation plate for beam brightness enhancement in a high-power laser.

We present a simple and robust method for brightness enhancement, efficiently transforming a radially polarized LG (0,1)(*) mode into a nearly Gaussian beam of much higher quality. We use for this a spatially variable retardation plate and a spatial filter. The analysis shows that the transformation yields an increase in brightness by a factor of 3.4. In the experiment, we transformed a high-power Nd:YAG radially polarized (0,1)(*) LG beam with power of 70 W and M(2)=2.6 into a nearly Gaussian beam with M(2)=1.36. This resulted in brightness enhancement by a factor of 2.6.

Efficient extracavity generation of radially and azimuthally polarized beams.

We demonstrate an efficient transformation of a linearly polarized Gaussian beam to a radially or an azimuthally polarized doughnut (0,1)* Laguerre-Gaussian beam of high purity. We use a spatially variable retardation plate, composed of eight sectors of a lambda/2 retardation plate, to transform a linear polarization distribution to radial/azimuthal distribution. We transformed an Nd:YAG Gaussian beam with M(2)=1.3 to a radially and azimuthally polarized (0,1)* Laguerre-Gaussian beams with M(2)=2.5 and degree of radial/azimuthal polarization of 96-98%.

Efficient conversion of a radially polarized beam to a nearly Gaussian beam.

We demonstrate an efficient method for transformation of a radially polarized Laguerre-Gaussian beam to a nearly Gaussian beam with much higher beam quality. The method is based on separation of the radially polarized mode into two degenerate modes and coherent addition of the modes after phase flattening. We transformed a high-power Nd:YAG radially polarized (0,1)(*) Laguerre-Gaussian beam with M(2)=2.52 and power of 30 W into a nearly Gaussian beam with M(2)=1.3. As a result, the brightness increased by a factor of approximately 2.5.