Far-field sub-diffraction focusing and controlled focus shaping of circularly polarized light using a dielectric phase plate.

In recent years, sub-diffraction focusing has received substantial attention due to its versatility. However, achieving a flexible sub-diffraction focusing in the far field remains stimulating. Existing techniques either require complex fabrication facilities or are limited to the short focal length and high numerical aperture (NA) of the imaging system. Here, we introduce an optimization method for sub-diffraction focusing of a circularly polarized beam in the far field with a lens of large focal length. A cost-effective dielectric phase plate serves the purpose. By employing a phase plate composed of a thin layer of dielectric , the phase of the propagating beam is modulated in the beam's cross-section, which is divided into two regions of the opposite phase by the plate. A sub-diffraction focusing is achieved for a proper tunning between the two regions. In addition to sub-diffraction focusing, the phase plate is also capable of shaping the focus into a doughnut-shaped and a flat-top profile in the far field. This design provides a simple solution for sub-diffraction focusing and focus shaping that will find potential applications in optical imaging, optical trapping, and material processing.