Propagation of laser beams beyond the paraxial region

Norbert Reng; Ari T. Friberg

doi:10.1117/12.259891

20 November 1996 Propagation of laser beams beyond the paraxial region

Norbert Reng, Ari T. Friberg

Proceedings Volume 2870, Third International Workshop on Laser Beam and Optics Characterization; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.259891
Event: Third International Workshop on Laser Beam and Optics Characterization, 1996, Quebec City, Canada

Abstract

Making use of the angular-spectrum representation of a radiation field a formula for the second moments 2(z)> is given, which applies to the propagation of non paraxial beams. The formula was originally derived by Belanger et al. [Bel94] for coherent fields and here it is extended to partially coherent fields. Formally a quadratic propagation law for the second moments 2(z)> is obtained. With the help of an equation of motion for the Wigner distribution function that accounts for non paraxial fields, analogous propagation equation for the second moments 2(z)> is derived, which yields a quadratic z-dependence of the moments as well. The coefficients, which in the paraxial approximation are identified as measures of the beam parameters, suffer in the general case from convergency problems. Therefore the field descriptions are modified in such a way that finite beam parameters exist. The effects of extending the beam propagation formalism form the paraxial approximation to the non paraxial region are studied with sample fields.

Citation Download Citation

Norbert Reng and Ari T. Friberg "Propagation of laser beams beyond the paraxial region", Proc. SPIE 2870, Third International Workshop on Laser Beam and Optics Characterization, (20 November 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.259891

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available