Pancharatnam Berry Phase as the Origin of Vector Nature Observed in Hermite Gaussian Superposition States

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Rao, A. Srinivasa
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Rao, A. Srinivasa
author_facet Rao, A. Srinivasa
contents Superposition of orthogonal Hermite Gaussian (HG) modes in orthogonal linear polarization states is one of the techniques used for the experimental realization of lower order optical vector beams and vector vortex lattices. To date, it has been widely believed that the vector nature arising from this technique originates from the spatial intensity distribution of the superposed HG modes. Here, we report that the vector characteristics observed during the characterization of vector modes generated via HG mode superposition arise from the azimuthally inhomogeneous intensity distribution and the polarization-dependent Pancharatnam Berry (PB) phase. Our analytical calculations confirm that the vector nature is not inherently present in the superposition state; rather, it becomes observable due to polarization-based optical elements used in the characterization process. This insight provides a fundamental clarification of the physical origin of the experimentally observed vector nature in HG-mode superposition.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_02903
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Pancharatnam Berry Phase as the Origin of Vector Nature Observed in Hermite Gaussian Superposition States
Rao, A. Srinivasa
Optics
Superposition of orthogonal Hermite Gaussian (HG) modes in orthogonal linear polarization states is one of the techniques used for the experimental realization of lower order optical vector beams and vector vortex lattices. To date, it has been widely believed that the vector nature arising from this technique originates from the spatial intensity distribution of the superposed HG modes. Here, we report that the vector characteristics observed during the characterization of vector modes generated via HG mode superposition arise from the azimuthally inhomogeneous intensity distribution and the polarization-dependent Pancharatnam Berry (PB) phase. Our analytical calculations confirm that the vector nature is not inherently present in the superposition state; rather, it becomes observable due to polarization-based optical elements used in the characterization process. This insight provides a fundamental clarification of the physical origin of the experimentally observed vector nature in HG-mode superposition.
title Pancharatnam Berry Phase as the Origin of Vector Nature Observed in Hermite Gaussian Superposition States
topic Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.02903