Conversion of the polarization of light via a composite half-wave plate

Systems and methods for converting linearly polarized light to azimuthally or radially polarized light. A composite half-wave plate assembly includes a plurality of angular half-wave plate sections. Each of the plurality of angular half-wave plate sections have two congruent sides that meet at an apex. The plurality of half-wave plates are arranged such that the apexes of the plurality of angular half-wave plate sections all meet at a point substantially at a center of the composite half-wave plate, and a characteristic c-axis associated with a given angular half-wave plate section is aligned differently from the respective characteristic c-axes of at least two angular half-wave plate sections in substantial contact with the two sides of the given angular half-wave plate section. A fixation element engages the plurality of angular half-wave plate sections to maintain the angular half-wave plate sections in a desired arrangement.