Much ado about nothing: optical distortion lines (phase singularities, zeros, and vortices)

Michael V. Berry

doi:10.1117/12.317693

3 August 1998 Much ado about nothing: optical distortion lines (phase singularities, zeros, and vortices)

Michael V. Berry

Proceedings Volume 3487, International Conference on Singular Optics; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317693
Event: International Conference on Singular Optics, 1997, Partenit, Crimea, Ukraine

Abstract

Often, light can be represented, approximately or exactly, by a complex scalar wave (psi) , smoothly varying in space and/or time. The field (psi) could be a cartesian component of the electromagnetic field or of the vector potential, or one of several scalar potentials appropriate to different circumstances. This meeting has been concerned with the line singularities of the phase of (psi) . Here, I wish to make some general remarks about these lines. Except where stated, all the remarks are independent of the particular wave equation that (psi) satisfies.

Citation Download Citation

Michael V. Berry "Much ado about nothing: optical distortion lines (phase singularities, zeros, and vortices)", Proc. SPIE 3487, International Conference on Singular Optics, (3 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317693

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