Ultrabroadband Multichannel Vector Vortex Beams With Versatile Electrically Induced Functionality

The emergence of vector vortex beams (VVBs) has opened new avenues for various applications in optics and photonics. However, owing to the formidable phase aberration ascribed to the chromatic dispersion, the generation of VVBs suffers from a limited working spectrum, thus rendering the massive integration level and functionality challenging. Here, this work proposes a creative paradigm to generate ultrabroadband multichannel VVBs, via programming the electric field vector through the twisted nematic liquid crystals configured by photopatterning. It is experimentally demonstrated the multichannel VVBs propagate along a group of diffraction orders among an unprecedented bandwidth over 1000 nm covering the visible and NIR band, and the working spectrum can be extended into the mid-IR region even at 10 mu m wavelength with a sufficient efficiency of more than 80%. Remarkably, distinct from the usual electrical switching on-off cycle, the multichannel VVBs can be optionally regulated in either a reversible or irreversible manner by conveniently adjusting the applied voltage, thus endowing the versatile functionality for smart control and confidential purposes. The combination of multichannel VVB generation, ultrabroad spectral range, versatile controllability, and simplicity renders the methodology quite promising in photonics, quantum science, and fundamental physics.