Patterned optical anisotropic film for generation of non-diffracting vortex beams

Bessel vortex beams (BVBs) are endowed with non-diffracting properties and carry specific orbital angular momentum, which adds a new degree of freedom in the manipulation of light. A patterned liquid crystal polymer (LCP)-based optical anisotropic film is proposed and demonstrated for generation of non-diffracting BVBs. The optical axis distribution is induced by the functionalized film, which can simultaneously modulate the amplitude and phase of the wavefront. Different BVB modes can be obtained in this manner. The topological charges and non-diffracting properties of the BVBs are experimentally verified. The multifunctional LCP film exhibits the merits of low power consumption, low cost, and easy fabrication. It may provide a new strategy for beam shaping and planar optics.