Does the beam width affect the generalized M factor of hard-edged diffracted beams?

A detailed study of the generalized M² factor of hard-edged diffracted beams based on the truncated second-order moments method, asymptotic analysis and self-convergent beam width approach is performed. The dependence of the generalized M² factor on the parameters characterizing the spatial profile, and beam truncation, etc. is analyzed.     

截断部分相干厄米-高斯光束的广义M2G因子

基于广义截断二阶矩法,推导出了截断部分相干厄米-高斯(H-G)光束的广义M²_G因子的解析表达式. 截断完全相干H-G光束、截断高斯谢尔模型(GSM)光束以及截断高斯光束可以做为本文结果的特例给出. 研究表明:截断部分相干H-G光束的广义M²_G因子与截断参数δ,模阶数m以及相干参数α有关. 当δ非常小时,M^{2关键词： 截断部分相干厄米高斯光束 M2_G因子')" href="#">广义M2_G因子 广义截断二阶矩法}     

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.     

The Beam Propagation Factor of Nonparaxial Truncated Flattened Gaussian Beams

By using the second-order moment of the power density, the beam width, far-field divergence angle and M² factor of nonparaxial truncated flattened Gaussian (FG) beams are derived analytically. It is shown that the M² factor of nonparaxial truncated FG beams depends not only on the truncation parameter δ and beam order N, but also on the initial waist-width to wavelength ratio w₀/λ. The far-field divergence angle approaches an asymptotic value of θ_max=63.435° when the truncation parameter δ → 0. For the special cases of N = 0 and δ → ∞ our results reduce to those of nonparaxial truncated Gaussian beams and nonparaxial untruncated FG beams, respectively.     

Propagation properties of partially coherent modified Bessel–Gauss beams

Starting from the propagation law of partially coherent light, the analytical propagation equations of partially coherent modified Bessel–Gauss beams (MBGBs) through a paraxial optical ABCD system are derived and illustrated with typical application examples. Furthermore, by using the intensity moments method and integral transformation technique, the important characteristic parameters, including the beam width, far-field divergence angle, M² factor and kurtosis parameter of partially coherent MBGBs, are expressed in a closed and simple form. As a result, some basic properties of MBGBs and the dependence of the M² factor and kurtosis parameter on the spectral degree of coherence and beam order are illustrated both analytically and numerically.     

柱坐标系中截断光束的广义M2因子

推导出截断圆对称光束二阶矩的传输方程，它们与无截断光束的二阶矩满足相似的传输定律.因此，基于广义截断二阶矩方法，将直角坐标系中截断二维光束的二阶矩特征参数推广到柱坐标系中的截断圆对称光束，类似方法定义的广义M²因子（M²_G因子）是一个传输不变量.对理论的自洽性作了物理解释.推导出柱坐标系中截断超高斯光束的二阶矩参数和M²_G因子.对一些有意义的特殊情况作了讨论，并以数值计算例作了说明. 关键词： 光束描述 截断光束 圆对称性 广义截断二阶矩(GTSM) 2因子（M²_G因子）')" href="#">广义M²因子（M²_G因子）     

Axial intensity distribution and focal shifts of focused partially coherent conical Bessel–Gauss beams

Based on the generalized Huygens–Fresnel diffraction integral and the theory of partially coherent light, the axial intensity distribution and the focal shifts of focused partially coherent conical Bessel–Gauss beams are investigated. The dependence of the maximum on-axis intensity and the associated focal shift on the Fresnel number and the coherence parameter are examined and illustrated numerically. The results related to the J ₀-correlated beams and the fully coherent Bessel–Gauss beams are obtained as particular cases of this study.     

厄米-高斯光束的M2因子矩阵

提出了厄米-高斯光场的M²因子矩阵.引入束半宽平方的交叉项、M²因子的交叉项,理论推导出了在同一坐标系下光场旋转一定角度后的M²因子矩阵,数值模拟了与M²因子矩阵有关的各参数随光场旋转角度变化的规律,给出了光场的M²因子矢量点随光场旋转角度变化的轨迹曲线.计算结果与理论推导结果相符,证实了利用M²因子矩阵可以将旋转前后的二维厄米-高斯光场用旋转矩阵统一起来.该方法可推广到对一般的二维高阶高斯光束的光束质量的理论分析上,具有普适性,对光束质量的实际测量有重要的理论指导意义. 关键词： M²因子矩阵')" href="#">M²因子矩阵 厄米-高斯光束 非对称激光束 矩阵光学     

Propagation of truncated modified Laguerre–Gaussian beams

By expanding the circ function into a finite sum of complex Gaussian functions and applying the Collins formula, the propagation of hard-edge diffracted modified Laguerre–Gaussian beams (MLGBs) through a paraxial ABCD system is studied, and the approximate closed-form propagation expression of hard-edge diffracted MLGBs is obtained. The transverse intensity distribution of the MLGB carrying finite power can be characterized by a single bright and symmetric ring during propagation when the aperture radius is very large. Starting from the definition of the generalized truncated second-order moments, the beam quality factor of MLGBs through a hard-edged circular aperture is investigated in a cylindrical coordinate system, which turns out to be dependent on the truncated radius and the beam orders.     

Quantitative comparison of self-healing ability between Bessel–Gaussian beam and Airy beam

The self-healing ability during propagation process is one of the most important properties of non-diffracting beams. This ability has crucial advantages to light sheet-based microscopy to reduce scattering artefacts, increase the quality of the image and enhance the resolution of microscopy. Based on similarity between two infinite-dimensional complex vectors in Hilbert space, the ability to a Bessel–Gaussian beam and an Airy beam have been studied and compared. Comparing the evolution of the similarity of Bessel–Gaussian beam with Airy beam under the same conditions, we find that Bessel–Gaussian beam has stronger self-healing ability and is more stable than that of Airy beam. To confirm this result, the intensity profiles of Bessel–Gaussian beam and Airy beam with different similarities are numerically calculated and compared.     

Generalized M factor of hard-edged diffracted controllable dark-hollow beams

On the basis of the truncated second-order moments method on the cylindrical coordinate systems, an analytical expression of the generalized beam propagation factor ( factor) of hard-edged diffracted controllable dark-hollow beams is derived and illustrated numerically. It is shown that the factor of truncated controllable dark-hollow beams is dependent on the beam truncation parameter δ and the beam parameters N and ε. The result can be reduced to that for the non-truncated case as the truncation parameter approaches to be infinite. The power fraction is also discussed analytically and numerically.     

Studies of propagation characteristics of elliptical Gaussian beams through circular apertured optical systems

An approximate analytical propagation formula of the elliptical Gaussian beams through a paraxial ABCD optical system with a circular aperture is obtained on the basis of the expansion of a hard-edged aperture into a finite sum of complex Gaussian functions. And the parameter characteristics of the truncated beams including the beam propagation factor and the kurtosis parameter are also studied in detail by using the second-order-moments method.     

Focal shift and focal switch of Bessel–Gaussian beams passing through a lens system with or without aperture

The focal shift and focal switch of Bessel–Gaussian (B–G) beams passing through a lens system with or without aperture is studied in detail. For the unapertured case, the necessary condition for the focal switch and the expression for the amplitude of the focal switch are derived. It is shown that if the truncation parameter δδ_c or beam parameter ββ_c (δ_c, β_c are the corresponding critical values), there exits only one axial intensity maximum, and the focusing without focal shift can be achieved for u/f=1 (u is the separation between the aperture and lens, f is the focal length of the lens); if δ>δ_c and β>β_c, there exist two axial intensity maxima, and the focal switch can take place at the turning point u/f=1 for both apertured and unapertured cases. The dependence of the amplitude of focal switch and normalized axial intensity minimum on the truncation parameter, beam parameter and Fresnel number is also studied.     

Propagation factors of Hermite–Gaussian beams in turbulent atmosphere

Based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral and the second-order moments of the Wigner distribution function, an analytical formulae for the propagation factors (M²-factors) of coherent and partially coherent one-dimensional Hermite–Gaussian beams in a turbulent atmosphere are derived. Evolution properties of the M²-factor of the Hermite–Gaussian beam in a turbulent atmosphere are studied numerically in detail. Our results show that the M²-factor of the Hermite–Gaussian beam increases upon propagation in a turbulent atmosphere. The M²-factor of the Hermite–Gaussian beam with larger beam order (or lower coherence) increases slower that of the Hermite–Gaussian beam with smaller beam order (or higher coherence) in a turbulent atmosphere, which means that the Hermite–Gaussian beam with a larger beam order and lower coherence is less affected by a turbulent atmosphere. Our results will be useful in long-distance free-space optical communications.     

Propagation of high-order Bessel–Gaussian beam through a misaligned first-order optical system

The generalized diffraction integralis used to derive a generalized formula for high-order Bessel–Gaussian beams (HBGBs) through a misaligned first-order ABCD optical system. It is found that, when a HBGB propagates through a misaligned optical system, the beam shape of the output beam is unchanged. However, the center of the output beam is deviated from the optical axis, forming a decentered HBGB. The position of the output beam may be controlled by adjusting the misaligned parameters. Based on the derived formula, the diffraction patterns of HBGBs propagating through a simple misaligned lens system have been calculated numerically. These results may be useful in the application of laser beams for trapping and manipulating a wide variety of particles.     

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.     

The influence of turbulence on propagation properties of partially coherent sinh-Gaussian beams and their beam quality in the far field

Based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle, the closed-form propagation equation of partially coherent Sinh-Gaussian (ShG) beams through the turbulent atmosphere has been derived by using the quadratic approximation of the Rytov's phase structure function. The influence of turbulence on propagation properties of partially coherent ShG beams and their beam quality in the far field are studied both analytically and numerical. The fully coherent ShG beam has been treated as a special case of the partially coherent ShG beam when the degree of spatial coherence α=∞. It is shown that in comparison with the free-space propagation the turbulence accelerates the evolution of three stages that partially coherent ShG beams undergo. The smaller α is, the less partially coherent ShG beams are affected by the turbulence. In particular, we find that the β parameter decreases as the decentered parameter δ increases, but the dependence of the Strehl ratio on δ is not monotonous. There exists an optimal δ_opt, the influence of turbulence on the maximum intensity of the corresponding partially coherent ShG beam with δ_opt is the smallest. Therefore, a suitable choice of δ may reduce the influence of turbulence on the beam quality in the far field in practice.     

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.     

Rectangular hard-edged aperture diffracted Laguerre–Gaussian beams

Based on the relations between Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) and Hermite–Gaussian (HG) modes and by introduced the complex Gaussian expansion method for two dimensional rectangular aperture, the approximate analytical propagation expressions of the rotational symmetrical LG beams along with their even and odd modes through a paraxial ABCD optical system with rectangular hard-edged aperture are derived. As special cases of the results, the corresponding closed-forms of the circular aperture diffracted LG beams and non-truncated LG beams are also given. Numerical examples are given to prove the validity of this approximate analytical method and illustrate the propagation properties of the rectangular hard-edged aperture diffracted LG beams.     

Beam quality of truncated laser beams with amplitude modulations and phase fluctuations in turbulence

The closed-form expressions for the Rayleigh range z_R and the M²-factor of truncated laser beams with amplitude modulations (AMs) and phase fluctuations (PFs) in turbulence are derived, and the beam quality is studied by taking the z_R and the M²-factor as the characteristic parameters of beam quality. The M²-factor of truncated laser beams with AMs and PFs is always larger than that of truncated Gaussian beams both in free space and in turbulence. However, in turbulence the beam quality of truncated laser beams with AMs and PFs may be better than that of truncated Gaussian beams if the z_R is taken as the characteristic parameter of beam quality. For laser beams with AMs and PFs in turbulence, the beam quality expressed in terms of z_R is consistent with that in terms of the M²-factor versus the phase fluctuation parameter α, but not versus the intensity modulation parameter σ_A. The beam quality of truncated laser beams with AMs and PFs is less sensitive to turbulence than that of truncated Gaussian beams. The beam quality of laser beams with smaller α and larger σ_A is less affected by turbulence than those with larger α and smaller σ_A.