Polarized optical pathways towards next-generation photonic devices for engineering light-matter interactions

Nayak, Jeeban Kumar (2024) Polarized optical pathways towards next-generation photonic devices for engineering light-matter interactions. PhD thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

Text (PhD thesis of Jeeban Kumar Nayak (19RS027)) 19RS027.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (28MB)

Abstract

This thesis explores the interaction of polarized light with matter to develop advanced photonic techniques through controlled manipulation of light’s degrees of freedom. Specifically, it investigates the spin-orbit interaction (SOI) of light in hybridized metamaterials, enabling manipulation at the nanometer scale and paving the way for multifunctional, tunable nanodevices. A novel polarization Mueller matrix approach is introduced for the quantification and interpretation of various spin-orbit photonic effects in complex optical systems. Building on this, the principles of Fourier optical imaging are utilized to demonstrate a differential imaging technique, that integrates polarization degrees of freedom with optical spatial differentiation, enabling simultaneous differential amplitude, phase, and quantitative polarization imaging in a single experimental setup. The thesis further combines Fourier optical imaging with the interferometric principles of quantum weak values to establish a microscopic approach termed weak measurement microscopy. This method leverages a weak coupling between the spatial frequency (transverse momentum) and polarization degrees of freedom of light, allowing the concurrent acquisition of position and momentum domain information via characteristic polarization Stokes vector elements, which may have potential implications towards quantum imaging. In summary, the optical techniques developed in this thesis, based on fundamental spin-optical effects such as spin-orbit interaction, geometric phase, and weak measurements, offer promising advancements for diverse applications in nanophotonics, multifunctional microscopy, biomedical research, quantum imaging, and beyond.

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