Focal shift of focused truncated Lorentz-Gauss beam

Based on the Collins diffraction integral formula and the complex Gaussian expansion of the aperture function, an analytical expression for a Lorentz-Gauss beam focused by an optical system with a thin lens and a circular aperture has been derived. The focal shift of the focused truncated Lorentz-Gauss beam is investigated with numerical examples, and the dependence of the focal shift on the different parameters of the focused truncated Lorentz-Gauss beam is discussed in detail. This research is useful to the applications of highly divergent laser beams.     

厄米双曲余弦高斯光束的焦开关

对双曲余弦高斯光束通过光阑透镜分离系统的轴上光强分布做了详细的数值分析。研究发现,在一定条件下轴上存在两个光强极大值点,并且在这两个极大值点相互竞争中会出现焦点位置的有效置换,即出现焦开关。厄米双曲余弦高斯光束产生焦开关的条件是:光阑与透镜相对间距为1,光束阶数为偶数,光束参数小于其相应的临界值,截断参数在它的两个临界值之间。进一步研究表明,焦点位置相对跃迁量和轴上相对光强下凹量随光束参数的减小而增大,但是随着截断参数的增大焦点位置相对跃迁量和轴上相对光强下凹量将分别出现一个极大值。在大范围调焦的应用中,可利用焦开关实现调焦之目的;在精密聚焦的激光应用中,应控制焦开关的产生。     

Changes of intensity distribution of a tightly focused plane-wave pulse induced by lens dispersion

The tightly focusing properties of a linearly polarized plane-wave pulse through a high numerical aperture (NA) lens with dispersion are formulated. The effects of lens dispersion on the tightly focused intensity distribution in the focal region are studied in detail. It is found that, because of the lens dispersion, the intensity of the side lobe of the focused light spot strengthens in the transverse direction and the size of the main lobe of the focused light spot increases in the longitudinal direction as the pulse duration decreases. In addition, we compare the effects of dispersion of lens made by different types of glass on tightly focusing properties of a pulse beam. The results will be helpful to choose suitable high NA objective lens in experiment.     

The Intensity Distribution of a Gaussian Schell-model Beam Focused by an Aperture Lens

Abstract

Starting from the generalized Huygens-Fresnel diffraction integral, we study the intensity distribution of a Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beam diffracted at an aperture lens. A great number of numerical calculations have been performed to illustrate the focused field characteristics. Isophote diagrams are given for systems of different Fresnel numbers, which focus GSM beams, and the related analysis is presented.     

Focusing of axially symmetric flattened Gaussian beams

Abstract

We study the three-dimensional field distribution of a focused axially symmetric flattened Gaussian beam. In particular, exact closed-form expressions for the intensity along the optical axis and at the focal plane are provided, together with a comparison between our results and those pertinent to the case of a converging spherical wave diffracted by a hard-edge circular aperture. Some hints for future investigations are also given.     

平顶多高斯光束通过球差透镜的聚焦特性

利用广义惠更斯-菲涅耳衍射积分公式,研究了平顶多高斯光束通过球差透镜的聚焦特性。推导出轴上光强分布的表达式,并对轴上光强进行大量的数值计算及分析。研究结果表明,当平顶多高斯光束的阶数N一定时,透镜的球差将在很大程度上影响光束的聚焦特性;当透镜的球差一定时,N值的改变将影响轴上最佳聚焦点的位置;当无球差时,轴上最佳聚焦点并不在几何焦点处,轴上最佳聚焦点位置随着N值增加向几何焦点靠近,例如当阶数N由0增大为1时,则归一化最佳聚焦点由0.91增大到0.98。     

Quasi-diffraction-free beams.

A diffraction-free beam is obtained by the superposing of plane waves whose wave vectors make an angle with the propagation axis. These plane waves are realized with point sources that are distributed uniformly around a circle and an infinitely large aperture lens. After the field passes through the lens it has nondiffracting properties and is described by the zero-order Bessel function. Relaxing these conditions makes the beam diffraction free within only a limited region. The beam generated from such a geometry is referred to as a quasi-diffraction-free beam. The effects of the width of the annular source on the beam spread are discussed and compared with those for a Gaussian beam. Approximate expressions for quasi-diffraction-free beams are also obtained.     

Double refraction of a Gaussian beam into a uniaxial crystal

For a linearly polarized three-dimensional Gaussian beam in air that is normally incident upon a plane interface with a uniaxial crystal with optic axis in an arbitrary direction, we present integral representations for the transmitted field suitable for asymptotic analysis and efficient numerical evaluation and derive analytical expressions for transmitted nontruncated Gaussian beams for the cases in which the incident beam is polarized parallel to the plane containing the optic axis and the interface normal and transverse to it. The general solution for an arbitrary polarization state of an incident Gaussian beam follows by superposition of these two solutions.     

Atmospheric optical communication with a Gaussian Schell beam

We consider a wireless optical communication link in which the laser source is a Gaussian Schell beam. The effects of atmospheric turbulence strength and degree of source spatial coherence on aperture averaging and average bit error rate are examined. To accomplish this, we have derived analytic expressions for the spatial covariance of irradiance fluctuations and log-intensity variance for a Gaussian beam of any degree of coherence in the weak fluctuation regime. When spatial coherence of the transmitted source beam is reduced, intensity fluctuations (scintillations) decrease, leading to a significant reduction in the bit error rate of the optical communication link. We have also identified an enhanced aperture-averaging effect that occurs in tightly focused coherent Gaussian beams and in collimated and slightly divergent partially coherent beams. The expressions derived provide a useful design tool for selecting the optimal transmitter beam size, receiver aperture size, beam spatial coherence, transmitter focusing, etc., for the anticipated atmospheric channel conditions.     

Characterizing output beams for lasers that use high-magnification unstable resonators.

Laser beams generated from high-magnification on-axis unstable resonators by use of hard-edged optics typically have a doughnut-shaped distribution in the near field (i.e., a flat-top profile with a hole in the middle for an axially coupled beam). We derive analytical expressions describing this distribution by using the flattened Gaussian beams concept. The superposition of two flattened Gaussian beams whose flatness and steepness of edges are controlled by defined parameters (i.e., the beam width and the order) is used to analyze the output beam intensity along the propagation axis. Finally, experimental measurements of beam propagation from a copper-vapor laser fitted with a high-magnification unstable resonator show excellent agreement with theoretical predictions.     

Numerical calculation of the sound field focused by acoustic lens with an arbitrary axisymmetric sound speed distribution

The expressions that describe the sound field focused by an acoustic lens with different sound speed distribution (SSD) in lens are given. Numerical calculation results are presented, in which the axial and lateral sound pressure distributions and the -3 dB sound beam profile along the focused field are given out for three types of the acoustic focused lens with revolving-arc curved outer surface and four types' axisymmetric SSD. It is shown that, when sound beam is focused by a lens with SSD, the best focal point moves away from the lens and achieves a large focal region compared with the no-SSD case. The maximum axial focused intensity at the best focal point is smaller than that of the no-SSD case, but the focused beam width at the best focal point is larger than that of the no-SSD case. The larger the coefficient of the SSD, the larger the focused beam width and the larger focal region, but the divergent angle is almost the same.     

Generating radial or azimuthal polarization by axial sampling of circularly polarized vortex beams

A laser beam with circular polarization can be converted into either radial or azimuthal polarization by a microfabricated spiral phase plate and a radial (or azimuthal)-type linear analyzer. The resulting polarization is axially symmetric and is able to produce tightly focused light fields beyond the diffraction limit. We describe in detail the theory behind the technique and the experimental verification of the polarization both in the far field and at the focus of a high numerical aperture lens. Vector properties of the beam under strong focusing conditions were observed by comparing the fluorescence images corresponding to the focal intensity distribution for both radial and azimuthal polarizations. The technique discussed here may easily be implemented to a wide range of optical instruments and devices that require the use of tightly focused light beams.     

环状光束通过球差透镜的聚焦特性

利用偏心高斯光束相干叠加的方法,建立了柱坐标系下环状光束的新模型.从广义衍射积分理论出发,经过大量数值计算分析,详细研究了环状光束通过球差透镜的聚焦特性,定量分析了环状光束的阶数L,M、偏心高斯光束的束腰宽度w0以及球差系数C4对聚焦光场实际焦点(轴上最大光强)位置以及轴上最大光强的影响.研究结果表明,本文提出的模型可统-描述基模高斯光束和环状光束.在透镜焦距和入射光束波长一定的情况下,环状光束通过球差透镜的聚焦特性不仅与透镜的球差系数C4有关,而且还与环状光束的阶数L,M以及偏心高斯光束的束腰宽度w0有关.     

Focal Shift Formula for Focused,Apertured Gaussian Beams

A formula is developed for fast computing focal shift in the diffraction field of a Gaussian beam that is focused by a thin lens filled in a circular aperture of any prescribed radius. This formula is a generalization of two previously known focal shift formulae, one for un-apertured Gaussian beam, another for plane-wave beam.     

Dependence of transverse and longitudinal resolutions on incident Gaussian beam widths in the illumination part of optical scanning microscopy

We studied both theoretically and experimentally the intensity distribution of a Gaussian laser beam when it was focused by an objective lens with its numerical aperture up to 0.95. Approximate formulas for full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the intensity distribution at focus were derived for very large and very small initial beam waists with respect to the entrance pupil radius of the objective lens. In experiments, the energy flux through a 0.5 microm pinhole was measured for various pinhole positions. It was found in theoretical analysis and confirmed in experiments that the FWHMs at focus in the transverse and longitudinal directions do not increase much from the ultimate FWHMs until the input beam waist is reduced below half of the entrance pupil radius.     

Focusing properties of high charge number vortex laser beams

We investigate experimentally and numerically the propagation characteristics of laser beams formed by imparting an azimuthal phase lphi to a Gaussian beam, where l is an integer. We find that when high-l beams of a finite extent are focused through a lens, the beams achieve peak intensity and are most sharply defined before and after the focal plane. Additionally, in these regions of highest intensity the effect of aberrations on the beam quality is greatly reduced, which we also demonstrate experimentally and numerically. We present a simple geometrical picture that provides excellent estimates of the beam radius and propagation distance to the plane of peak intensity.     

径各平方贝赛尔函数调制高斯光束的焦移

给出变量为径向平方的贝塞尔函数调制的高斯光束（QBG光束）通过ABCD聚集光学系统的轴上光强分布公式,对QBG光束通过薄秀镜聚集系统的轴上光强分布及焦移进行了研究,得到相对焦移满足的三次方程和解析解,给出详细的数值计算结果并进行了分析讨论。     

Spectral changes and spectral switches of partially coherent beams focused by an aperture lens

Starting from the propagation law of partially coherent polychromatic light in the space-frequency domain, detailed numerical results and physical analysis are given to elucidate spectral changes and spectral switches at the geometrical focal plane of Gaussian Schell-model beams focused by an aperture lens. It is found that, in contrast to the aperture-induced spectral anomalies of spatially fully coherent polychromatic light, for partially coherent polychromatic light aperture diffraction plays an important role in spectral switching, but the truncation parameter, spectral correlation, and bandwidth all affect its spectral behavior.     

Fraunhofer diffraction of laser beams with amplitude modulations and phase fluctuations by a lens with a central obscure aperture

Abstract

By using the statistical-optics model and generalized Huygens-Fresnel diffraction integral, Fraunhofer diffraction of high-power laser beams with amplitude modulations (AMs) and phase fluctuations (PFs) focused by a lens with a central obscure aperture has been studied. Detailed numerical calculation results have been given, showing the dependence of the intensity distribution at the geometrical focal position and the power (energy) focus-ability of high-power laser beams not only on the obscure ratio, but also on the truncation parameter, AMs and PFs of beams.     

Simple and rigorous analytical expression of the propagating field behind an axicon illuminated by an azimuthally polarized beam

A simple and rigorous analytical expression of the propagating field behind an axicon illuminated by an azimuthally polarized beam has been deduced by use of the vector interference theory. This analytical expression can easily be used to calculate accurately the propagation field distribution of azimuthally polarized beams throughout the whole space behind an axicon with any size base angle, not just restricted inside the geometric focal region as does the Fresnel diffraction integral. The numerical results show that the pattern of the beam produced by the azimuthally polarized Gaussian beam that passes through an axicon is a multiring, almost-equal-intensity, and propagation-invariant interference beam in the geometric focal region. The number of bright rings increases with the propagation distance, reaching its maximum at half of the geometric focal length and then decreasing. The intensity of bright rings gradually decreases with the propagation distance in the geometric focal region. However, in the far-field (noninterference) region, only one single-ring pattern is produced and the dark spot size expands rapidly with propagation distance.