Simultaneous tailoring of complete polarization, amplitude and phase of vector beams

We propose and experimentally demonstrate the complete and simultaneous modulation of the amplitude, phase and arbitrary state of polarization spanning the entire surface of the Poincaré sphere. By using a single spatial light modulator (SLM), we can create vector beams from a coaxial superposition of x- and y-linearly polarized light, each carrying the structured amplitude profile and phase distribution, which result from a two-dimensional holographic grating pattern that is imposed on the SLM. By manipulating four free modulation parameters imbedded in the SLM grating we can realize the independent and simultaneous tailoring of the amplitude, phase and polarization distribution of vector beams.