Abstract

Optical singularities appear at points or lines where the phase or amplitude of the wave is undefined or changes abruptly. In particular vortices are spiral phase ramps around a singularity. If the polarization is space varying (i.e. transversely inhomogeneous), then disclinations, which are points or lines of singularity in the patterns or directions of the transverse field, can arise. An example is the center of a beam with radial polarization.

© 2002 Optical Society of America