High Power Laser Science and Engineering, Volume. , Issue , ()
Focal Spot Polarization Distribution under Polarization Smoothing [Early Posting]
Polarization smoothing (PS) can effectively improve the uniformity of focal spots. In this study, we theoretically and experimentally investigated the polarization synthesis of the focal spot under a birefringent wedge (BW) and speckle under the coupling of the BW and continuous phase plate (CPP). Polarization distribution was experimentally obtained using rotating quarter-wave plate measurement under a specific wedge angle. The simulation and experimental results are consistent, demonstrating that the focal spot is in a state of coexistence of elliptical and linear polarizations. In addition, the polarization state is determined by the ratio of the amplitudes and the phase difference between the sub-beams. The simulation results showed that the proportion of linear polarization increased with the separation angle of the sub-beam. In contrast, it decreased with the incident light aperture. This research is crucial for accurately describing the polarization distribution and further understanding the laser-plasma interactions.