%0 Journal Article %1 Dorn2003Focus %A Dorn, Ralf %A Quabis, Susanne %A Leuchs, Gerd %D 2003 %I Taylor & Francis %J Journal of Modern Optics %K omagnus, optics %N 12 %P 1917--1926 %R 10.1080/09500340308235246 %T The focus of light—linear polarization breaks the rotational symmetry of the focal spot %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09500340308235246 %V 50 %X Abstract We experimentally demonstrate for the first time that a linearly polarized beam is focused to an asymmetric spot when using a high-numerical aperture focusing system. This asymmetry was predicted by Richards and Wolf in 1959 and can only be measured when a polarization-insensitive sensor is placed in the focal region. We used a specially modified photodiode in a knife-edge-type set-up to obtain highly resolved images of the total electric energy density distribution at the focus. The results are in good agreement with the predictions of a vectorial focusing theory.

@article{Dorn2003Focus, abstract = {{Abstract We experimentally demonstrate for the first time that a linearly polarized beam is focused to an asymmetric spot when using a high-numerical aperture focusing system. This asymmetry was predicted by Richards and Wolf in 1959 and can only be measured when a polarization-insensitive sensor is placed in the focal region. We used a specially modified photodiode in a knife-edge-type set-up to obtain highly resolved images of the total electric energy density distribution at the focus. The results are in good agreement with the predictions of a vectorial focusing theory.}}, added-at = {2019-02-26T15:22:34.000+0100}, author = {Dorn, Ralf and Quabis, Susanne and Leuchs, Gerd}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2edb5175e92b7a70476c99f74b8fc1015/rspreeuw}, citeulike-article-id = {11871114}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09500340308235246}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09500340308235246}, day = 1, doi = {10.1080/09500340308235246}, interhash = {bc457716f7816e5493cf099217ac562f}, intrahash = {edb5175e92b7a70476c99f74b8fc1015}, journal = {Journal of Modern Optics}, keywords = {omagnus, optics}, month = aug, number = 12, pages = {1917--1926}, posted-at = {2013-01-09 13:54:41}, priority = {2}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, timestamp = {2019-02-26T15:22:34.000+0100}, title = {{The focus of light—linear polarization breaks the rotational symmetry of the focal spot}}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09500340308235246}, volume = 50, year = 2003 }