A tighter focus laser beam results in a better resolution for laser lithography and microscopy, higher cutting speed and cutting resolution for laser machining applications, as well as a high storage density for optical data storage application.

DSO has exploited non-obvious uses of polarisation physics to invent four new methods to generate such a laser beam, which offer advantages such as cheaper fabrications, a more accurate radial polarisation profile, and the possibility of mass fabrication of large aperture optics with high-speed switchability.