A Higher Order Poincare Sphere Representation

A recently proposed higher order Poincare sphere constructed from the total optical angular momentum eigen-states of circular polarized optical vortices and the higher order states of polarization of vector vortex beams is presented. This novel representation can be applied to facilitate the description of various vector polarization beams such as radial and azimuthally polarized cylindrical vector beams, as well as the spin orbit conversion of q-plates. An experimental method with which to measure higher order Stokes parameters in terms of a spin and orbital decomposition of a light beam is also discussed.