Anomalies in the field of a gaussian beam near focus

A theoretical analysis of the electromagnetic field of a focused gaussian beam, like that produced by some lasers, indicates anomalies in the field distribution over the focal region. The transverse component of the electric field is shown graphically in this region using data obtained through the numerical integration of an expression that is exact according to Maxwell's equations. These data agree with the standard paraxial theories used to describe gaussian beams only asymtotically, in the limit of zero beam divergence about focus. As the divergence is increased, so that the beam is brought more sharply to focus, the gaussian beam evolves toward a dipole field from which all evanescent plane waves have been removed. Gaussian beams observed in nature should show some evidence of the associated anomalies, even if the beam is almost collimated.     

Minimization of scintillation index against displacement parameters

For sinusoidal beams, minimization of scintillation index is carried out against the displacements parameters. It is found that x-y asymmetric cosh-Gaussian beam fulfills the requirements of such optimum beam. Our minimization procedure reveals that the optimum beam is achieved by continually focusing it at the chosen propagation length and by further adjusting displacements parameters to be propagation distance dependent. Scintillation index of thus constructed optimum beam is formulated and numerically evaluated. Our graphical comparisons entailing collimated and focused versions of cos-, cosh-Gaussian, annular-Gaussian and Gaussian beams show that the optimum beam yields the lowest scintillations provided that propagation range is less than or equal to the focusing distance.     

Pseudo-Gaussian cylindrical acoustical beam – Axial scattering and radiation force on an elastic cylinder

Making use of the addition theorem for the cylindrical wave functions and the complex-source-point method in cylindrical coordinates, an exact solution to the Helmholtz equation is derived, which corresponds to a tightly focused (or collimated) cylindrical quasi-Gaussian beam with arbitrary waist. The solution is termed “quasi-Gaussian” to make a distinction from the standard Gaussian beam solution obtained in the paraxial approximation. The advantage of introducing this new solution is the efficient and fast computational modeling of tightly focused or quasi-collimated cylindrical wave-fronts depending on the dimensionless waist parameter kw₀, where k is the wavenumber of the acoustical radiation. Moreover, a closed-form partial-wave series expansion is obtained for the incident field, which has the property that the axial scattering (i.e. along the direction of wave propagation) and the axial acoustic radiation force (which is a time-averaged quantity) on a cylinder, can be calculated without any approximations in the limit of linear acoustical waves in a nonviscous fluid. Examples are found where the extinction in the radiation force function plot is found to be correlated with conditions giving reduction of the backscattering from an elastic cylinder. Those results are useful in beam-forming design, particle manipulation in acoustic tweezers operating with focused cylindrical beams, and the prediction of the scattering and radiation forces on a cylindrical particle or liquid bridges.     

Propagation of astigmatic stochastic electromagnetic beams in oceanic turbulence

In this paper, we investigate the characteristics of astigmatic stochastic electromagnetic beams through oceanic turbulence. Taking the electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beam as an example, the analytic expressions for the spectral density and the spectral degree of polarization of the beam propagating the oceanic turbulence are derived. It is indicated that the spectral density along the z-axis of the GSM beam in the oceanic turbulence is severely influenced by the source correlation properties, as well as by the sea-related parameters. We show that the characteristics of the spectral density along the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis of astigmatic electromagnetic GSM beams passing through the oceanic turbulence are qualitatively different. Furthermore, we find that as the astigmatic coefficient becomes larger, the maximum value of the spectral density along the z-axis increases rapidly and the width of the spectral density becomes shorter rapidly. Finally, the results have shown that different strengths of astigmatism have different effects on the spectral degree of polarization.     

A simple roll measurement method based on a rectangular-prism

A novel roll measurement method based on a rectangular-prism is presented. A collimated beam is normally incident upon a rectangular-prism with splitting film, and it is divided into two parts, the reflected and the transmitted beams. The displacements of the reflected and the transmitted beams are measured by two quadrant photoelectric detectors QD₁ and QD₂, respectively. The displacement change in the y-axis caused by roll can be measured with differential measurements from two quadrant photoelectric detectors. Theoretic analyses show that the crosstalk of straightness errors and yaw errors are avoided, and the crosstalk of the pitch α can be neglected by adopting differential measurements because the direction changes of the reflected and the transmitted beams are both double the changes of pitch. In this way, the stability for the roll measurement can be greatly enhanced. The systemic model is established and the feasibility of such a system is verified by theoretical analysis and experiments. The resolution of 0.3″ and measurement accuracy of 2″ can be obtained by the set-up measurement system.     

The application of Gaussian beam. Formalism to optical propagation in nonlinear media

The nonlinear propagation problem of optical beams in media with an intensity dependent indices of refraction is solved in the case of a fundamental gaussian beam. This solution is made possible by assuming everywhere along the propagation path a quadratic index profile. The quadratic constant is obtained self-consistently from the second term in a Taylor expansion of the local gaussian intensity. The solution constitutes an extension of the well known ABCD formalism to nonlinear propagation.     

Propagation properties of Lorentz beam in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis

The properties of Lorentz beams propagating in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis are studied. The diffraction field components and effective beam sizes of the Lorentz beams are derived in analytical forms. Numerical results show that, upon propagating in uniaxial crystals, a Lorentz beam loses its initial Lorentz type distribution. Also, after propagating for sufficient distances, the transverse components would finally convert into a specific four-petal profile with an axial shadow, which may find applications in the optical trapping of particles. It also shows that the Lorentz beam parameters w_0x, w_0y and the ratios of refractive indices have strong influences on the diffraction field components and on the effective beam sizes when propagating in uniaxial crystals.     

The representation of 3D gaussian beams by means of inhomogeneous waves

There are different methods to mathematically represent a bounded beam. Perhaps the most famous method is the classical Fourier method that consists of the superposition of pure homogeneous plane waves all traveling in different directions and having an amplitude that can be found by the Fourier transform of the required profile. This method works perfectly for 2D as well as for 3D bounded beams. However, some researchers prefer the inhomogeneous wave theory to represent a bounded beam because some phenomena, e.g. the Schoch effect, are explained by this method by means of concepts that agree better with intuition. There are several papers dealing with this method for 2D gaussian beams. Until now, it has never been considered possible to represent 3D gaussian beams as well. The present paper shows a method to overcome this shortcoming and presents different sorts of 3D gaussian beams that are built up by means of inhomogeneous plane waves.     

A detailed study of Mathieu-Gauss beams propagation through an apertured ABCD optical system

Using Collins formula and the expansion of Mathieu beams in terms of Bessel beams we derive the exact propagation equations of Mathieu-Gauss beams through an apertured paraxial ABCD optical system. A comparison between the exact propagation equations and the approximated ones, which are derived by expanding the circ function into a finite sum of Gaussian functions, is presented. The propagation characteristics of zeroth-order Mathieu-Gauss beams in (y-z) and (x-z) planes are analyzed with detailed numerical calculations. It is found that the profile of the propagated Mathieu-Gauss beam is similar to that of Bessel-Gauss beam. Furthermore, the focalization of the Mathieu-Gauss beams through a thin lens is illustrated and analyzed with numerical results.     

Test of a Ray-Trace Method for Field Calculations in Antenna Systems Design

A numerical method of beam propagation is based on decomposition of the beam into a set of geometric rays in the Gabor Representation, followed by ray-tracing. The method was developed for the optical design field, whereas here its applicability to MM-wave problems is demonstrated, as are its advantages over other methods for describing diffractive propagation in cases where the components used produce significant aberrations and/or beam clipping. Such cases arise particularly in space borne instruments, due to the limited aperture size (relative to wavelength) and other accommodation constraints.In order to validate this ray-trace method a previously published result, from a paper on the beam-mode method, is used as a test case. This involves the transformation of a gaussian beam by oblique reflection at an off-axis parabolic mirror. The results for ray-trace computation of the aberrated output beam pattern are presented and compared with those of the beam-mode method.At short wavelengths (mirror in the far-field) where the main aberration effect is from beam size variation along the mirror surface, the ray-trace method agrees well with the beam-mode method. At longer wavelengths (mirror in intermediate-field) there is an additional effect of the wavefront centre of curvature varying its position along the mirror, and the ray-trace method is shown to accurately incorporate this effect, whereas the beam-mode method does not. This feature of the ray-trace method should overcome previous restrictions whereby the only designs which could be analysed were those with components either in far-field or collimated regions of the beam.     

Moment and kurtosis parameter of partially coherent cosh-Gaussian beam in turbulent atmosphere

An analytical expression for arbitrary moments of the cosh-Gaussian–Shell beam in turbulent atmosphere is derived. As a special case, kurtosis parameters of collimated and focused cosh-Gaussian beam with and without turbulent atmosphere are studied in detail. It can be seen from the study that the kurtosis parameters of Gaussian beam do not remain constant in turbulent atmosphere. Similar to the kurtosis parameters of a cosh-Gaussian beam at source plane, the kurtosis parameters at focal plane without turbulent atmosphere are independent of the propagation distance and vary with the parameters of the beam. But the variation of the kurtosis parameters at focal plane is different from that at source plane. However, the kurtosis parameters of collimated and focused cosh-Gaussian beam both vary with the propagation distance and gradually converge to 3 along the z-axis in turbulent atmosphere. Compared with a collimated beam, the kurtosis parameters of a focused beam converge more quickly.     

The influence of optical activity on optimal conditions of focusing of one- and two-dimensional light beams of different profiles in a cubic photorefractive crystal

We compare regular features of propagation of one- and two-dimensional light beams in an optically active photorefractive crystal placed in an external electric field. We show that there exist ranges of the crystal thickness in which the optical activity can lead to an increase in the relative intensity of either beam. We have found that, taking into account the optical activity, an optimal orientation angle at which a maximal self-focusing of light beams is observed differs from commonly used values of 35.3° and 90° for the x and y polarized beams, respectively.     

Induced focusing and conversion of a Gaussian beam into an elliptic Gaussian beam

We have presented an investigation of the induced focusing in Kerr media of two laser beams, the pump beam and the probe beam, which could be either Gaussian or elliptic Gaussian or a combination of the two. We have used variational formalism to derive relevant beam-width equations. Among several important findings, the finding that a very week probe beam can be guided and focused when power of both beams are well below their individual threshold for self-focusing, is a noteworthy one. It has been found that induced focusing is not possible for laser beams of any wavelength and beam radius. In case both beams are elliptic Gaussian, we have shown that when power of both beams is above a certain threshold value then the effective radius of both beams collapses and collapse distance depends on power. Moreover, it has been found that induced focusing can be employed to convert a circular Gaussian beam into an elliptic Gaussian beam.     

准直透镜反射光引起的一个问题

准直透镜主要用于产生平行光束然而,由于其表面的反射作用,在准直后的平行光束中,还存在一束会聚光束这会聚光束与平行光束相比虽很微弱,但在其会聚点附近具有较高的强度,在安排光路时应注意避开它,否则会带来某种程度的干扰本文讨论了这种反射光对全息记录带来的影响和应注意的问题,并根据衍射理论导出了反射光的会聚位置,结果与实验符合甚好.     

Generation and tight-focusing properties of cylindrical vector circular Airy beams

Tight-focusing properties of cylindrical vector circular Airy beams [i.e., azimuthally polarized (AP) circular Airy beam and radially polarized (RP) circular Airy beam] passing through a high numerical aperture thin lens are investigated in detail. It is found that a super long subwavelength dark channel with full width at half maximum about 0.49λ and depth of focus (DOF) about 52λ can be achieved near the focal region for the case of tight focusing of an AP circular Airy beam, and a super long needle with DOF about 27.5λ of strong longitudinally polarized field can be obtained near the focal region for the case of tight focusing of a RP circular Airy beam. Furthermore, we report experimental generation of an AP circular Airy. Our results will be useful for atom guiding and trapping, particle acceleration and fluorescent imaging.     

The intensity distribution of hollow Gaussian beams focused by a lens with spherical aberration

We developed an expression that describes the hollow Gaussian beams (HGBs) passing through a spherically aberrated lens by using the Collins formula. The radial intensity distribution in both spherical aberration SA free lens, lens that exhibits relatively large in both positive spherical aberration PSA, and negative spherical aberration NSA is calculated. Numerical calculations are made and the results show that the PSA and NSA have a strong influence on the intensity distribution especially at the focus. The study showed remarkable results for which there is no hollow Gaussian beam at a large NSA along the optical axis at the focus. In addition, we found that the DSS, and w_r of focused hollow Gaussian beams in the focal region depend not only on the beam radius, and beam order; but also on the spherical aberration.     

Acoustic radiation force on a sphere in standing and quasi-standing zero-order Bessel beam tweezers

Starting from the exact acoustic scattering from a sphere immersed in an ideal fluid and centered along the propagation axis of a standing or quasi-standing zero-order Bessel beam, explicit partial-wave representations for the radiation force are derived. A standing or a quasi-standing acoustic field is the result of propagating two equal or unequal amplitude zero-order Bessel beams, respectively, along the same axis but in opposite sense. The Bessel beam is characterized by the half-cone angle β of its plane wave components, such that β = 0 represents a plane wave. It is assumed here that the half-cone angle β for each of the counter-propagating acoustic Bessel beams is equal. Fluid, elastic and viscoelastic spheres immersed in water are treated as examples. Results indicate the capability of manipulating spherical targets based on their mechanical and acoustical properties. This condition provides an impetus for further designing acoustic tweezers operating with standing or quasi-standing Bessel acoustic waves. Potential applications include particle manipulation in micro-fluidic lab-on-chips as well as in reduced gravity environments.     

Analytical solution and semi-analytical solution for anisotropic functionally graded beam subject to arbitrary loading

Analytical and semi-analytical solutions are presented for anisotropic functionally graded beams subject to an arbitrary load, which can be expanded in terms of sinusoidal series. For plane stress problems, the stress function is assumed to consist of two parts, one being a product of a trigonometric function of the longitudinal coordinate (x) and an undetermined function of the thickness coordinate (y), and the other a linear polynomial of x with unknown coefficients depending on y. The governing equations satisfied by these y-dependent functions are derived. The expressions for stresses, resultant forces and displacements are then deduced, with integral constants determinable from the boundary conditions. While the analytical solution is derived for the beam with material coefficients varying exponentially or in a power law along the thickness, the semi-analytical solution is sought by making use of the sub-layer approximation for the beam with an arbitrary variation of material parameters along the thickness. The present analysis is applicable to beams with various boundary conditions at the two ends. Three numerical examples are presented for validation of the theory and illustration of the effects of certain parameters. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 10472102, 10432030, and 10725210)     

Scattering of a general partially coherent beam from a diffuse target in atmospheric turbulence

The second-order and fourth-order statistical moments of the speckle field from a diffuse target in atmospheric turbulence are studied which have great influence on the performance of lidar systems. By expanding a general rotationally symmetric beam as a sum of Gaussian–Schell model(GSM) beams, the mean intensity of the general beam propagating over a distance in an atmospheric turbulence is formulated. Expressions for the degree of coherence(DOC) and the normalized intensity variance of the scattered field of a general beam from a rough surface in turbulence are derived based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle. The general expressions reduce to the well-known forms for a GSM beam. Another example for the general beam used in this paper is the collimated flat-topped beam. The results of both kinds of beams show that the intensity profile on the target plane is a key factor affecting the statistical characteristics of the speckle field.A larger beam spot on the target plane induces a smaller coherence length and a smaller normalized intensity variance of the received field. As turbulence gets stronger, the coherence length becomes smaller, and the normalized intensity variance firstly increases and declines to unity finally.     

Design of a wedge plate for polarization-preserving angular shifter

It is shown that by using a wedge plate, the incident direction of light propagation can be rotated as necessary while still preserving beam polarization. The basic conditions of these preservations of polarization are deduced. For numerical demonstration, it is shown that a collimated beam with +45° linear polarization can be guided to any pre-settled direction where the square of ellipse ratio variation in the polarization is less than 0.0001%, while the variation of squared ellipse ratio of a right circular polarization beam is kept under 0.1%.