Multi-focus of modulated polarized Airy beam

•Subwavelength multiple focusing generated in a high numerical aperture system.•The multi-focus can be easily achieved by Airy beam and a modulating function.•The subwavelength focusing is highly controlled.

The focusing performance of a modulated polarized Airy beam is explored by using the Richards and Wolf vectorial diffraction model in a high numerical aperture system. The multiple foca appeared on the focal plane or along the optical axis when a complex amplitude modulating function was introduced. Two focusing spots with long-focal-depth were additionally observed due to the Airy beam and complex amplitude modulation. The distance between the focuses were changed from 1.15λ to 3.56λ with FWHM of 0.9λ for one-dimensional linear polarized incident beam and from 1.15λ to 3.64λ for two-dimensional beam. The multiple focusing spots are expected to apply in the field of optical trapping and particle acceleration.