Focal switch of spherically aberrated Laguerre–Gaussian beams

Based on the Collins formula, we study the focal switch of spherically aberrated Laguerre–Gaussian (L–G) beams passing through an optical system with the aperture and lens separated. Our results demonstrate that the behavior of the focal switch of spherically aberrated L–G beams is generally dependent on the spherical aberration coefficient, truncation parameter, Fresnel number and mode indices. The spherical aberration affects the relative focal shift, critical position of the focal switch and the relative transition. We also illustrate that there exists a minimum in addition to a maximum in the truncation parameter. Only inside the region between the minimum and the maximum the focal switch effect can be expected. The region depends on the spherical aberration coefficient as well as the Fresnel number.