A Method to Distinguish C-Point from V-Point

In the paraxial regime inhomogeneous polarization distribution may host critical points such as C-points and V-points. In this paper we propose a method by which we can distinguish between C-points and V-points. Surprisingly, the C-points and V-points polarization singularities behave differently when passed through a variable retarder. Non-generic C-point disintegrate, for most of the retardation, into generic C-points when it is passed through a variable retarder whereas V-point does not disintegrate. Maximum number of C-points generated are equal to four times the absolute value of C-point index of incident beam.