Nonparaxial propagation of a partially coherent dark hollow beam

Based on the generalized Raleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral, an analytical nonparaxial propagation formula of a partially coherent dark hollow beam (DHB) in free space is derived. The paraxial approximation is dealt with as a special case of our general result. By using the derived formula, the nonparaxial propagation properties of DHBs are studied and are compared with the paraxial results. It is shown that the nonparaxiality properties of a partially coherent DHB are closely related to its initial beam parameters (i.e., beam waist size, wavelength, coherence length, dark size) and the propagation distance.     

Vectorial partially coherent flat-topped beams and their nonparaxial propagation

The concept of vectorial partially coherent flat-topped beams is proposed, and their nonparaxial propagation in free space is studied in detail. Based on the vector Rayleigh diffraction integral formulae, the analytical propagation expressions for the cross-spectral density matrix of the polarized vectorial nonparaxial partially coherent flat-topped beams are derived and applied to study the nonparaxial propagation properties of vectorial partially coherent flat-topped beams. The effect of propagation parameters on the intensity and the coherence property of the nonparaxial vectorial partially coherent flat-topped beam is illustrated and analyzed comparatively with the corresponding paraxial results.     

Polarization properties of nonparaxial partially polarized Gaussian Schell-model beams

The polarization properties of nonparaxial partially polarized Gaussian Schell-model (PGSM) beams are studied. Based on the beam coherence-polarization matrix, the propagation formula of the degree of polarization for the nonparaxial PGSM beams is derived. The paraxial approximation is dealt with as special cases of our general results. Some conditions that limit the choice of the parameters are established. The sufficiency condition of polarization invariance in propagation for the nonparaxial PGSM beams is derived. By using the derived formulae, the propagation properties of the degree of polarization for the nonparaxial PGSM beam in free space are illustrated and analyzed with numerical examples. Some detailed comparisons of the obtained results with the paraxial results are made.     

Propagation of a twisted anisotropic Gaussian Schell-model beam beyond the paraxial approximation

With the help of a tensor method, an analytical nonparaxial propagation formula for a twisted anisotropic Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beam in free space is derived based on the generalized Raleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral. The far-field nonparaxial propagation expression for a twisted anisotropic GSM beam is also derived. The paraxial approximation is dealt with as a special case of our general result. Our numerical results show that the nonparaxial propagation properties of a twisted anisotropic GSM beam are closely related to the initial beam parameters (i.e., twist factor, transverse spot width matrix, coherence width matrix and wavelength) and the propagation distance. Our formulae provide a convenient and powerful way for studying the paraxial and nonparaxial propagation of an isotropic or anisotropic GSM beam with or without twist phase in free space.     

Partially coherent nonparaxial modified Bessel--Gauss beams

The concept of partially coherent nonparaxial modified Bessel--Gauss (MBG) beams is proposed. Based on the generalized Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral, the analytical propagation equations of nonparaxial MBG beams in free space are derived and analysed, and some special cases are discussed. In particular, under the paraxial approximation our results reduce to the corresponding paraxial ones. Numerical calculation examples are given to illustrate the dependence of intensity and spectral degree of coherence on the beam order $m$, \textit{$\xi $} and $f$ parameters, and to compare the difference between the paraxial and nonparaxial results.     

Partially coherent nonparaxial beams

The concept of a partially coherent nonparaxial beam is proposed. A closed-form expression for the propagation of nonparaxial Gaussian Schell model (GSM) beams in free space is derived and applied to study the propagation properties of nonparaxial GSM beams. It is shown that for partially coherent nonparaxial beams a new parameter f(sigma) has to be introduced, which together with the parameter f, determines the beam nonparaxiality.     

Circular partially coherent flattened Gaussian beam

An alternative theoretical model called circular partially coherent flattened Gaussian beam (FGB) is developed to describe a circular partially coherent beam with a flat-topped spatial profile. Explicit expression for the propagation factor of a circular partially coherent FGB is derived. We drive the analytical formulae for the cross-spectral density and mean-squared beam width of a circular partially coherent FGB propagating through a paraxial ABCD optical system based on the generalized Collins formula. The intensity, spreading and directionality properties of a circular partially coherent FGB propagating in free space are studied as numerical examples. The propagation properties of a circular partially coherent FGB agree well with those of a partially coherent flat-topped beam reported in the literature. Thus, our model provides an alternative but reliable model for describing a circular partially coherent beam with flat-topped profile.     

Partially coherent nonparaxial Hermite-Gaussian beams and their propagation properties

The concept of partially coherent nonparaxial Hermite-Gaussian (HG) beams is proposed. By using the generalized Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral, the closed-form propagation equations of partially coherent nonparaxial HG beams in free space are derived. The on-axis intensity, far-field and paraxial expressions, and specifically, the free-space propagation equations of partially coherent nonparaxial Gaussian Schell-model beams are given, and treated as special cases of our results. It is found that the f and f_σ parameters play a crucial role in determining the nonparaxiality of partially coherent TEM_mn-mode HG beams. Only if the f and f_σ parameters are small enough, the paraxial approximation is applicable.     

Partially coherent elegant Hermite–Gaussian beams

Elegant Hermite–Gaussian beams (EHGBs) are extended to the partially coherent case. An explicit and analytical formula is derived for the cross-spectral density of a partially coherent EHGB propagating through an aligned or misaligned paraxial ABCD optical system. The propagation properties of a partially coherent EHGB in free space and its focusing properties through a thin lens are studied numerically, and are compared to those of a partially coherent standard Hermite–Gaussian beam (SHGB). It is found that the propagation and focusing properties of a partially coherent EHGB are closely related to its initial coherence. A partially coherent EHGB spreads slower than a partially coherent SHGB in free-space propagation. A partially coherent EHGB can be focused more tightly than a partially coherent SHGB.     

An alternative model for a partially coherent elliptical dark hollow beam

An alternative theoretical model named partially coherent hollow elliptical Gaussian beam (HEGB) is proposed to describe a partially coherent beam with an elliptical dark hollow profile. Explicit expression for the propagation factors of a partially coherent HEGB is derived. Based on the generalized Collins formula, analytical formulae for the cross-spectral density and mean-squared beam width of a partially coherent HEGB, propagating through a paraxial ABCD optical system, are derived. Propagation properties of a partially coherent HEGB in free space are studied as a numerical example.     

Off-Axis Astigmatic Gaussian Beam Combination Beyond the Paraxial Approximation

Taking the off-axis astigmatic Gaussian beam combination as an example, the beam-combination concept is extended to the nonparaxial regime. The closed-form propagation expressions for coherent and incoherent combinations of nonparaxial off-axis astigmatic Gaussian beams with rectangular geometry are derived and illustrated with numerical examples. It is shown that the intensity distributions of the resulting beam depend on the combination scheme and beam parameters in general, and in the paraxial approximation （i.e., for the small f-parameter） our results reduce to the paraxial ones.     

Partially coherent anomalous hollow beam and its paraxial propagation

Anomalous hollow beam is extended to the partially coherent case. Analytical propagation formulae for a partially coherent anomalous hollow beam passing through a paraxial ABCD optical system are derived. The propagation properties of a partially coherent anomalous hollow beam in free space and the focusing properties of a partially coherent anomalous hollow beam are studied numerically. It is found that the propagation and focusing properties of the partially coherent anomalous hollow beam are closely related to its initial coherence.     

Shaping the beam profile of a partially coherent beam by a phase aperture

By use of a tensor method, an analytical formula for a partially coherent Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beam truncated by a circular phase aperture propagating through a paraxial ABCD optical system is derived. The propagation properties of a GSM beam truncated by a circular phase aperture in free space are studied numerically. It is found that the circular phase aperture can be used to shape the beam profile of a GSM beam and generate partially coherent dark hollow or flat-topped beam, which is useful in many applications, e.g., optical trapping, free-space optical communication, and material thermal processing. The propagation factor of a GSM beam truncated by a circular phase aperture is also analyzed.     

Nonparaxial propagation of a vectorial apertured off-axis Lorentz beam

Based on the vectorial Rayleigh--Sommerfeld integral formula and the complex Gaussian expansion of the hard-edge aperture function, an analytical propagation expression for a nonparaxial vectorial off-axis Lorentz beam passing through a rectangular aperture is derived. The unapertured case, the far field expression and the scalar paraxial result are also presented as special cases of the general formulae, respectively. Some numerical examples are also given to show the propagation characteristics of a nonparaxial vectorial off-axis Lorentz beam through a rectangular aperture. It is indicated that the f parameter, the off-axis displacement and the truncation parameter all play an important role in determining nonparaxial propagation behaviour.     

Propagation of partially coherent twisted anisotropic Gaussian Schell-model beams through an apertured astigmatic optical system

By expanding the hard-aperture function into a finite sum of complex Gaussian functions, we derived an approximate analytical formula for a partially coherent twisted anisotropic Gaussian Schell-model (AGSM) beam propagating through an apertured paraxial general astigmatic (GA) optical system by use of a tensor method. The results obtained by using the approximate analytical formula are in good agreement with those obtained by using the numerical integral calculation. Our formulas avoid time-consuming numerical integration and provide a convenient and effective way for studying the propagation and transformation of a partially coherent twisted AGSM beam through an apertured paraxial GA optical system.     

径向阵列非傍轴椭圆高斯光束的相干和非相干合成

 从瑞利-索末菲衍射积分公式出发,推导出径向阵列非傍轴离轴椭圆高斯光束相干合成和非相干合成在自由空间中的解析传输公式,给出其远场分布和傍轴表示式。研究表明:合成光束的光强分布与f参数、径向阵列半径、光束数、传输距离和合成方式有关;N束光相干合成和非相干合成在远场的光强最大值分别为单光束在远场最大值的N₂和N倍。     

Hollow Gaussian Schell-model beam and its propagation

In this paper, we present a new model, hollow Gaussian Schell-model beams (HGSMBs), to describe the practical dark hollow beams. An analytical propagation formula for HGSMBs passing through a paraxial first-order optical system is derived based on the theory of coherence. Based on the derived formula, an application example showing the influence of spatial coherence on the propagation of beams is illustrated. It is found that the beam propagating properties of HGSMBs will be greatly affected by their spatial coherence. Our model provides a very convenient way for analyzing the propagation properties of partially coherent dark hollow beams.     

非傍轴矢量异常空心光束的传输特性

 将Cai提出的异常空心光束的理论模型推广到非傍轴范畴,推导出非傍轴矢量异常空心光束传输的解析表达式,用以研究它在自由空间中的传输特性。研究表明,异常空心光束在传输过程中光束形状会发生变化。与高斯光束不同,非傍轴异常空心光束傍轴近似成立条件依赖于传输距离,这与异常空心光束光强分布随传输距离的变化有关。非傍轴异常空心光束远场的光束质量可用桶中功率来描述,桶中功率随f参数(波长与束腰宽度的比值)的增大而减小。     

Paraxial propagation of a partially coherent flattened Gaussian beam through apertured ABCD optical systems

By expanding the hard aperture function into a finite sum of complex Gaussian functions, some approximate analytical formulae for the cross-spectral density of a partially coherent flattened Gaussian beam (FGB) propagating through apertured aligned and misaligned ABCD optical systems are derived based on the generalized Collins formula. The results obtained by using the approximate analytical formula are in good agreement with those obtained by using the numerical integral calculation. As a numerical example, the focusing properties (including average irradiance distribution and focal shift) of a partially coherent FGB focused by an apertured thin lens are studied, and it is found that the focusing properties of a partially coherent FGB are closely related to its initial coherence and the aperture width. Our results provide an effective and fast way for studying the paraxial propagation of a partially coherent FGB through apertured ABCD optical systems.     

Nonparaxial propagation of phase-flipped Gaussian beams

This paper derives the closed-form expressions for nonparaxial phase flipped Gaussian （PFG） beams propagating in free space, through a knife edge and an aperture, which enable us to study nonparaxial propagation properties of PFG beams and to compare nonparaxial results with paraxial ones. It is found that the f parameter, offsetting distance of the knife edge and truncation parameter affect the nonparaxial beam propagation properties. Only under certain conditions the paraxial approximation is applicable. The results are illustrated by numerical examples.