Egorov R. Topological structure of the light fields with polarization singularities

The results of experimental investigations of an elliptical light field polarization structure around circularly polarized points are presented. The polarization azimuth is singular at such points. The fine ordering of field polarization structure was investigated. Each of three morphological forms of azimuthal distribution (Star, Lemon and Monstar) was measured by Stokes polarimetry technique. The degeneracy of ellipse semi-axes was experimentally studied for the first time. The optical diabolos (double cone form of ellipse parameters distribution) are presented. There are two types of optical diabolos: Elliptic and Hyperbolic. They have different conic section by plane of major (minor) semi-axes constant value. The influence of small perturbation on previously formed field polarization structure was analyzed using original technique of controllable perturbation insertion. The annihilation of pair of singular points was investigated experimentally in details. The Lemon point transforms to Monstar point before annihilation. The Elliptic diabolo transforms to Hyperbolic one analogously. The basic set of topological rules for diabolos annihilation/creation is presented.