Abstract: A system for converting the polarization state of an optical beam which propagates along a path from an initial polarization state into an inhomogeneous polarization state includes a first isotropic material and a first anisotropic material. The first anistropic material is positioned adjacent to the first isotropic material in a substantially transverse manner relative to the path of the optical beam. The first anisotropic material has a first alignment axis that produces one of a radially, azimuthally, and counter-rotationally polarized optical beam when substantially aligned with respect to a polarization axis of the optical beam.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an inhomogeneously polarized optical beam from a homogeneously polarized input optical beam includes a first phase shifter, a second phase shifter, and one or more polarization beam splitters. The first phase shifter shifts at least one portion of a first part of the input optical beam by a first phase. The second phase shifter shifts at least one portion of a second part of the input optical beam by substantially the first phase. The one or more polarization beam splitters split the input optical beam into the first part and the second part and combine the phase shifted portion and substantially all other portions of the first part of the input optical beam with the phase shifted portion and substantially all other portions of the second part of the input optical beam to produce the inhomogeneously polarized optical beam.

Abstract: A system for converting the polarization state of an optical beam which propagates along a path from an initial polarization state into an inhomogeneous polarization state in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes a first anisotropic material positioned adjacent to the first isotropic material in a substantially transverse manner relative to the path of the optical beam, wherein the first anisotropic material has a first alignment axis that produces one of a radially, azimuthally, and counter-rotationally polarized optical beam when substantially aligned with respect to a polarization axis of the optical beam.