Far-field properties and beam quality of vectorial Hermite–Laguerre–Gaussian beams beyond the paraxial approximation

The far-field properties and beam quality of vectorial nonparaxial Hermite–Laguerre–Gaussian (HLG) beams are studied in detail, where, instead of the second-order-moments-based M² factor, the extended power in the bucket (PIB) and βparameter are used to characterize the beam quality in the far field and the intensity in the formulae is replaced by the z component of the time-averaged Poynting vector S_z. It is found that the S_z PIB and βparameter of vectorial nonparaxial HLG beams depend on the mode indices n, m, αparameter and waist-width-to-wavelength ratio w₀/λ and the PIB and βparameter are additionally dependent on the bucket's size taken.     

Vectorial structure of a hard-edged-diffracted four-petal Gaussian beam in the far field

Based on the vector angular spectrum method and the stationary phase method and the fact that a circular aperture function can be expanded into a finite sum of complex Gaussian functions, the analytical vectorial structure of a four-petal Gaussian beam (FPGB) diffracted by a circular aperture is derived in the far field. The energy flux distributions and the diffraction effect introduced by the aperture are studied and illustrated graphically. Moreover, the influence of the f-parameter and the truncation parameter on the non-paraxiality is demonstrated in detail. In addition, the approximate formulas obtained in this paper can degenerate into un-apertured case when the truncation parameter tends to infinity. This work is beneficial to strengthen the understanding of vectorial properties of the FPGB diffracted by a circular aperture.     

Application of the Wigner distribution function to complex-argument Hermite– and Laguerre–Gaussian beams beyond the paraxial approximation

The Wigner distribution function (WDF) is applied to study the propagation of complex-argument Hermite–Gaussian (HG) and Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) beams beyond the paraxial approximation. The analytical expressions for their intensity distributions in free-space propagation are derived, which are expressed in terms of Hermite polynomials for nonparaxial complex-argument HG beams and in terms of the sum of finite Hermite polynomials for nonparaxial complex-argument LG beams. A detailed comparison of the WDF approach, series expansion method and paraxial expressions is made, which shows that in the paraxial regime the WDF approach and series expansion method deliver consistent results with that of paraxial expressions. Beyond the paraxial approximation, the WDF approach offers convergent results, whereas the series expansion method has a limited applicable range, within which it gives consistent results with that of WDF approach but beyond which it gives unrealistic and divergent results.     

Analytical vectorial structure of the anomalous hollow beam in the far field

On the basis of the vector angular spectrum representation of the Maxwell equations and the method of stationary phase, the analytical vectorial structure of an anomalous hollow beam in free space is presented. The energy flux distributions of the anomalous hollow beam, its TE and TM terms in the far field are investigated. The analytical results are analyzed with numerical examples.     

Investigation in the far field characteristics of TM polarized Gaussian beam from the vectorial structure

Based on the vectorial structure of electromagnetic beam and the method of stationary phase, the analytical TE and TM terms of TM polarized Gaussian beam, the rigorous solution of Maxwell's equations for a confocal resonator, have been presented in the far field. Then in terms of the vectorial structure, TM polarized Gaussian beam is compared with Gaussian TEM₀₀ mode. The TE term is located at the y-axis, and the TM term the x-axis. At the non-paraxial case, the whole beam spot is elliptical, and the long axis is located at the y-axis. Moreover, the whole beam spot of TM polarized Gaussian beam is smaller than that of Gaussian TEM₀₀ mode. At the paraxial case, the whole beam spot is circular, and TM polarized Gaussian beam reduces to be Gaussian TEM₀₀ mode.     

The elliptical Laguerre–Gaussian beam and its propagation

A new kind of light beam called the elliptical Laguerre–Gaussian beam (ELGB) is proposed in this paper in terms of tensor method. The propagation formula of ELGB through axially asymmetric optical system is derived by the generalized Collins integral. By using this formula, the propagation of ELGB in free space is calculated and discussed. The results show that the propagation behavior of ELGBs is notably different from that of LGBs.     

Analytical structure of Hermite Gaussian beam in far field

Based on the vectorial structure of electromagnetic beam and the method of stationary phase, the analytical structure of Hermite Gaussian beam in far field is presented. The structural energy flux distributions are also investigated in the far field. The structural pictures of some Hermite Gaussian beams are depicted in the far field. As the structure of Hermite Gaussian beam is dominated by the transverse mode numbers and the initial transverse Gaussian half width, it is more complex than that of Gaussian beam. The ratios of the structural energy fluxes to the whole energy flux are independent of the transverse mode numbers and the initial transverse Gaussian half width. The present research reveals the internal vectorial structure of Hermite Gaussian beam from other viewpoint.\     

Vectorial structure of helical hollow Gaussian beams in the far field

The analytical vectorial structure of helical hollow Gaussian beam (HHGB) is investigated in the far field based on the vector plane wave spectrum and the method of stationary phase. The energy flux distributions of HHGB in the far-field, which is composed of TE term with the electric field transverse to the propagation axis, and TM term with the magnetic field transverse to the propagation axis, are demonstrated. The physics pictures of HHGB is illustrated from the vectorial structure, which is important to understand the theoretical aspects of both scalar and vector HHGB propagation.     

Analytical vectorial structure of an apertured hollow Gaussian beam in the far field

Based on the vector angular-spectrum and the complex Gaussian expansion of the aperture function, the structure of an apertured hollow Gaussian beam in the far field is given in a integral form. In virtue of the method of stationary phase approximation, the analytical vectorial structures are derived. Starting from the analytical expressions, the propagation properties of apertured hollow Gaussian beams with different order in the far field are illustrated graphically. In addition, the influence of the truncation parameter on far field distribution is studied detailedly. This research can shed light on the further understanding of the vectorial property of an apertured hollow Gaussian beam.     

Focal shift in Hermite–Gaussian beams based on the encircled-power criterion

The focal shift in Hermite–Gaussian beams, whose axial irradiance vanishes, is studied based on the encircled-power criterion, and the results are illustrated numerically. The related problems are discussed.     

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.     

被圆相位片衍射的空心高斯光束的远场矢量结构特征

基于麦克斯韦方程组解的矢量角谱表述与稳相法,在仅有远场近似的条件下,得到了被圆相位片衍射的空心高斯光束远场能流密度分布的解析表达式.结果表明,光束的总能流可以表示为自由项与附加项之和,其中附加项是相位片对能流分布的影响;总能流、自由项能流、附加项能流又可以分别表示为各自的TE项和TM项之和.利用所导出的公式,描绘了空心高斯光束的总能流、自由项能流、附加项能流及其各自的TE项与TM项能流的横截面分布图.讨论了截断参数与附加相移对纵向总能流分布的影响.     

Far field structural characteristics of cosh-Gaussian beam

By means of the theorem of the vectorial structure of electromagnetic beams and the method of stationary phase, the analytical vectorial structure of cosh-Gaussian (ChG) beam in the far field is presented. The light intensity distributions of a ChG beam and its vectorial structure are investigated in the far field. In addition, the influence of the parameters associated with the cosh term on the light intensity distributions of the whole beam and its structure are also analyzed. The analytical formulae obtained here are applicable not only to the non-paraxial case, but also to the paraxial case. The physical picture of ChG beam in the far field is well depicted from the vectorial structure.     

The elliptical elegant Laguerre–Gaussian beam and its propagation through aligned and misaligned paraxial optical systems

A new kind of laser beam called the elliptical elegant Laguerre–Gaussian beam (EELGB) is defined by using tensor method. By using the generalized diffraction integral formulas for light beam passing through paraxial optical system, the analytical propagation formulas for EELGB passing through paraxial aligned and misaligned optical systems are obtained through vector integration. As examples of applications, the propagation properties of EELGBs in free space propagation and through a misaligned thin lens are studied.     

Effect of quartic-phase aberrations on the focal switch of Hermite–Gaussian beams

The focal switch of Hermite–Gaussian beams diffracted at an aperture and subsequently focused by a spherically aberrated lens is studied. Our main attention is focused on the effect of quartic-phase aberrations on the behavior of the focal switch. It is shown that quartic-phase aberrations affect the relative focal shift Δz_f, turning position s_1,t, and relative transition height Δz_sw. Apart from a critical maximum truncation parameter α_c,max, there is a critical minimum truncation parameter α_c,min. Within the region α_c,min<α<α_c,max the focal switch can take place, but quartic-phase aberrations give rise to a decrease of α_c,max-α_c,min in comparison with the aberration-free case.     

Analytical propagation equation of astigmatic Hermite–Gaussian beams through a 4×4 paraxial optical system and their symmetrizing transformation

Starting from the Collins formula, a closed-form propagation equation of astigmatic Hermite–Gaussian (H–G) beams through a 4×4 paraxial optical system is derived, which permits us to calculate the irradiance distribution at any propagation plane and to study the symmetrization of astigmatic standard and elegant H–G beams. A detailed symmetrizing transformation of astigmatic H–G beams through a three-cylindrical-lens mode converter is illustrated both analytically and numerically. It is found that in accordance with the second-order moments characterization, there are two types of beam symmetrization. The transformation of standard H–G beams through the three-cylindrical-lens mode converter belongs to the perfect symmetrization, whereas the transformation of elegant H–G beams is the imperfect one.     

Propagation of the Hermite–Gaussian beams through misaligned optical system with a circular aperture

By means of expanding a hard-edged aperture into a finite sum of complex Gaussian functions, the approximate analytical formula of one kind of higher-order Gaussian beams called the Hermite–Gaussian beams (HGBs) passing through circular apertured and misaligned optical system is obtained in this paper. The result provides more convenience for studying its propagation than the usual way by using diffraction integral directly. Some numerical simulations are also given for illustrating the propagation properties of the HGBs through the circular apertured optical systems.     

Propagation of a vectorial Laguerre–Gaussian beam beyond the paraxial approximation

Based on the vectorial Rayleigh–Sommerfeld integrals, the analytical propagation expression of a vectorial Laguerre–Gaussian beam beyond paraxial approximation is presented. The far field expression and the scalar paraxial result are obtained as special cases of the general formulae. According to the analytical representation, the light intensity distribution of the vectorial Laguerre–Gaussian beam is depicted in the reference plane. The light intensity distribution of a vectorial Laguerre–Gaussian beam with cos m is also compared with that of a vectorial Laguerre–Gaussian beam with sin m.     

The factor of nonparaxial Hermite–Gaussian beams and related problems

On the basis of the second-order moment of the power density and in the use of the series expansion, the expressions for the beam width, far-field divergence angle and M² factor of nonparaxial Hermite–Gaussian (H–G) beams are derived and expressed in a sum of the series of the Gamma function. The theoretical results are illustrated with numerical examples. The M² factor of nonparaxial H–G beams depends not only on the beam order m, but also on the waist-width to wavelength ratio w₀/λ. The far-field divergence angles of nonparaxial H–G beams with even and odd orders approach their upper limits θ_max=63.435 and 73.898, respectively, which results in M²<1 as w₀/λ→0. For the special case of m=0 our results reduce to those of nonparaxial Gaussian beams. Some problems related to the characterization of the nonparaxial beam quality are also discussed.