Figure 2.

Controlled positioning of the nanocone in 2D space. (a) For a fixed relative weight (25:75) of Gaussian and VV beams produced by an electrically detuned $q$-plate with topological charge of $q$=$+1/2$, SEM images show the motion of the nanocone in a circular arc when an additional phase is added to the superimposed beams by rotating the polarization axis of the incident Gaussian beam with respect to the $q$-plate axis. A single laser pulse irradiated the sample with a pulse energy of 600 nJ. (b) The corresponding simulated intensity profiles. (c) Polar plot showing the measured relative shift of the nanocone with respect to its position for a pure VV beam as a function of the rotation angle of the HWP (relative phase of the linearly polarized Gaussian beam) for different optical retardations (different weights of Gaussian and VV beams). The dashed lines are the simulated nanocone position.