3D laser printed form birefringent phase retarders for visible wavelengths

We report on fabrication of form birefringent phase retarder structures for visible wavelengths using 3D laser printing technique. The structures use 3D photonic crystal architecture modified to enhance structural anisotropy and birefringence, and exhibit a high phase retardation while retaining a low optical geometrical thickness of less than ten wavelengths. This architecture is used for realization of spatially-variant form birefringent Q-plate structures having spatially variant prentation of the local optical axis. Optical characteristics of the laser-printed Q-plates providing the evidence for their capability to convert optical spin orbital momentum into orbital angular momentum at optical wavelengths are also presented.