Defining the effective radius of curvature for a nonideal optical beam

A simple expression is given for evaluating the effective or average radius of curvature R(z) of an arbitrarily wrinkled, distorted, or nondiffraction-limited optical beam. This real-beam radius of curvature obeys the same free-space propagation equation as does the wavefront curvature of an ideal G...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE journal of quantum electronics 1991-05, Vol.27 (5), p.1146-1148
Main Author: Siegman, A.E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Artificial intelligence
Equations
Exact sciences and technology
Fourier transforms
Frequency domain analysis
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Laser beams
Optical beams
Optical collimators
Optical diffraction
Optical distortion
Optical propagation
Optics
Physics
Wave optics
Wave propagation, transmission and absorption
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Summary:A simple expression is given for evaluating the effective or average radius of curvature R(z) of an arbitrarily wrinkled, distorted, or nondiffraction-limited optical beam. This real-beam radius of curvature obeys the same free-space propagation equation as does the wavefront curvature of an ideal Gaussian beam. Extracting this correctable curvature from the beam at any plane simultaneously collimates the beam, makes that location a waist for the real beam, and minimizes the far-field beam divergence starting from that position.< >
ISSN:0018-9197
1558-1713
DOI:10.1109/3.83370