Tailoring arbitrary polarization states of light through scattering media

Light beams with spatially variant states of polarization (SOPs) have attracted increasing interest recently because their vector nature brings unique perspectives to optics and photonics. Nevertheless, their applications are challenged when transposed to scattering media, because of the inherent depolarization effects arising from multiple scattering. Wavefront shaping techniques are expected to confront these challenges; however, shaping spatially variant SOPs in addition to amplitude and phase of light through scattering media has not been explored yet. Here, we present a general framework based on the vector transmission matrix to simultaneously tailor these properties. Further, we demonstrate its use in producing multiple focal spots and structured light beams with spatially variant SOPs behind the scattering media, which is confirmed by simulations. As a particular application, by encoding information into light's spatially distributed SOPs, we are able to directly encrypt multiplexed grayscale images into a single laser beam behind a scattering medium. Our work is expected to find potential applications such as optical imaging in deep tissues, optical encryption, and communication. Published by AIP Publishing.