Patent ID: 7511885

Claim:
An optical method comprising: propagating a beam of light having first and second orthogonal polarization components through first optics comprising a plurality of optical elements disposed along an optical axis, said first optics having radial and tangential eigenpolarization states that form a circularly symmetric pattern around said optical axis, said radial and tangential eigenpolarization states being phased delayed with respect to each other so as to introduce phase delay between said first and second orthogonal polarization components in said beam of light; and substantially reducing said phase delay between said first and second orthogonal polarization components in said beam of light by propagating said light through second optics disposed along said optical axis, said second optics having radial and tangential eigenpolarization states that form a circularly symmetric pattern around said optical axis, said radial and tangential eigenpolarization states in said second optics being phased delayed with respect to each other opposite said phase delay between said radial and tangential eigenpolarization states of said first optics.