Fig. 1. Fast axis distributions of several VHPs with σ=0. (a)–(d) are the distributions with m=1, 2, 3, 4, respectively.

Fig. 2. Polarization distributions of various one-order CVP beams. (a)–(f) correspond to the polarization distributions of ERP,EAP,Eπ/41,E−π/41,EARP,EAAP.

Fig. 3. Direct-view experimental setup for the generation and double-slit interference of CV beams. Lenses 1 and 2 constitute a beam expander; HP, half-wave plate; GTP, Gran Taylor prism; QP, quarter-wave plate; VHP, vortex half-wave plate.

Fig. 4. Intensity distributions of generated first-order CV beams. (a)–(f) ERP,EAP,Eπ/41,E−π/41,EARP,EAAP. Arrow heads represent the transmission direction of the polarizers.

Fig. 5. Polarization azimuth distributions of generated first-order CV beams. (a)–(f) ERP,EAP,Eπ/41,E−π/41,EARP,EAAP. Arrow heads represent the polarization direction.

Fig. 6. Stokes parameters and polarization parameters of generated second-order and third-order CV beams. (a), (b) Second-order and third-order RP beams; (c), (d) second-order and third-order AP beams. 1–6: S1, S2, S3, DOP, PA, PE.

Fig. 7. Intensity and polarization distributions of generated first-order and third-order ARCV and CLCV beams. (a), (b) First-order and third-order ARCV beams; (c), (d) first-order and third-order CLCV beams; I0, intensity; ψ, PA; χ, PE.

Fig. 8. Experimental results of double-slit interference of first-order to third-order ARCV and CLCV beams. (a)–(c) First-order to third-order ARCV beams; (d)–(f) first-order to third-order CLCV beams; p1−p3, horizontal pixel positions with equal transverse fringes at y=50; p4−p6, corresponding horizontal pixel positions with equal transverse fringes at y=450.

Fig. 9. Experimental results of double-slit interference of first-order to third-order CV beams. (a)–(c) First-order RP beam; second-order π/4 beam; third-order AP beam.

Fig. 10. Experimental results of generated A-CVV beams. (a)–(d) Intensities of A-R1V3, A-R3V1, A-A1V3, and A-A3V1 beams; 1, intensity after a 0° polarizer; 2, intensity after a 45° polarizer; 3, PA; 4, PE. Arrow heads indicate the transmission direction of the polarizers.

Fig. 11. Stokes parameters and polarization parameters of generated C-CVV beams. (a)–(d) C-R1V3, C-R3V1, C-A1V3, and C-A3V1 beams; 0–5: S0, S1, S2, S3, PA, PE.

Fig. 12. Experimental results of double-slit interference of anti-clockwise and clockwise CVV beams. (a)–(d) A-R1V3 beam, A-A3V1 beam, C-A1V3 beam, and C-R3V1 beam.

Table 1. Measured Values of Pixel Positions and Topological Charge Number