We put forward a simple, scalable and robust technique for generating periodically structured light beams with intensity patterns, e.g. of the form cos2n(kxx) cos2m(kyy), where kx and ky are real numbers that can be tailored and n and m are integers. The technique combines the use of Gaussian beams with curved wavefronts, birefringent crystals (Savart plates) and linear polarizers. Applications range from photolithography to fabrication of micro-lens array and fiber Bragg gratings, 3D printing and tailoring of optical lattices for trapping atoms and molecules.

Peer Reviewed