Comparison of two approximate methods for hard-edged diffracted flat-topped light beams

• Published in: Optics communications 2006-11, Vol.267 (1), p.58-64
• Main Authors: Mei, Zhangrong, Zhao, Daomu, Gu, Juguan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apertures, collimators; Beam characteristics: profile, intensity, and power; spatial pattern formation; Diffraction and scattering; Diffraction integral; Exact sciences and technology; Flat-topped light beams; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Geometrical optics; Hard-edged circular aperture; Laser optical systems: design and operation; Optical elements, devices, and systems; Optical system; Optical system design; Optics; Physics; Wave optics
• ISSN: 0030-4018; 1873-0310
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optcom.2006.06.021

The integral resulted in an infinite series of Bessel functions and expanding a hard aperture into a complex-Gaussians shape are proposed as two methods for studying the propagation properties of the hard-edged diffraction flat-topped light beam. Using the two methods, the corresponding analytical propagation equations of flat-topped light beams through a circular apertured ABCD optical system are obtained. Some numerical calculations and comparative analyses by using the two methods and the diffraction integral formulae are made. It is shown that the first method of an infinite series of Bessel functions is superior to the second of expanding a hard aperture function into a complex-Gaussians shape at the aspect of calculation accuracy, but the second method is superior to the first method at the aspect of the improvement in the calculation efficiency.