Examination Committee

Prof Tiezheng QIAN, MATH/HKUST (Chairperson)
Prof Hoi Sing KWOK, ECE/HKUST (Thesis Supervisor)
Prof Vladimir CHIGRINOV, ECE/HKUST (Thesis Co-supervisor)
Prof Shin-Tson WU, The College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida (External Examiner)
Prof Jianan QU, ECE/HKUST
Prof Volkan KURSUN, ECE/HKUST
Prof Ping SHENG, PHYS/HKUST
 

Abstract

Recently, Pancharatnam-Berry phase optical element (PBOE) has drawn many attentions in the photonics community as these devices are compact and lightweight, which meets the current need of a compact electro-optical system.  Moreover, PBOE exhibits extraordinary polarization dependence property enabling the possibility of polarization optical processing and polarization control of the optical wavefront.  In this thesis, we will focus on the realization and the design of various new types of Liquid Crystal PBOE (LC-PBOE) using photoalignment via. polarization hologram setup, and discussed their possible applications.
 
Firstly, we have demonstrated the feasibility of using polarization converter hologram setup for realizing the micro-alignment structure of the newly developed PB lens (PBL).  High optical diffraction efficiency with fast switching time is measured from the fabricated switchable LC-PBL.  The application of PBL in augmented reality display, intraocular lenses and optical zoom system are discussed.
 
Moreover, we have presented the fabrication of a switchable cylindrical PBLA from a single step photo-alignment exposure.  It is shown the PBLA behaves as an electrically switchable diffuser switching from translucent to transparent state.  We have demonstrated the diffuser can be applied as a transparent display.
 
Furthermore, we have devised and experimentally demonstrated a polarization dependent diffractive bifocal vortex lens operating via. PB phase.  The interaction between the incident beam and the bifocal vortex lens establishes an entanglement between spin and orbital angular momentum of the photon state.  The components of the entangled state, associated with different spin and orbital angular momentum, can be sorted by the bifocality of the lens.  The device is realized using PB phase polarization holography.  Various applications of the polarization bifocal vortex lens in the field of quantum information processing and optical trapping are discussed.  Thus, the bifocal vortex lens can have significant impact in classical and quantum optics, as well as theoretical physics.