Trappe, Neil and Murphy, J.Anthony and Withington, Stafford (2003) The Gaussian beam mode analysis of classical phase aberrations in diffraction-limited optical systems. European Journal of Physics, 24 (4). pp. 403-412. ISSN 0143-0807

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Abstract

Gaussian beam mode analysis (GBMA) offers a more intuitive physical insight into how light beams evolve as they propagate than the conventional Fresnel diffraction integral approach. In this paper we illustrate that GBMA is a computationally efficient, alternative technique for tracing the evolution of a diffracting coherent beam. In previous papers we demonstrated the straightforward application of GBMA to the computation of the classical diffraction patterns associated with a range of standard apertures. In this paper we show how the GBMA technique can be expanded to investigate the effects of aberrations in the presence of diffraction by introducing the appropriate phase error term into the propagating quasi-optical beam. We compare our technique to the standard diffraction integral calculation for coma, astigmatism and spherical aberration, taking—for comparison—examples from the classic text 'Principles of Optics' by Born and Wolf. We show the advantages of GBMA for allowing the defocusing of an aberrated image to be evaluated quickly, which is particularly important and useful for probing the consequences of astigmatism and spherical aberration.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Cite as: Neil Trappe et al 2003 Eur. J. Phys. 24 403. The authors wish to acknowledge the financial assistance of Enterprise Ireland and also the funding received by Neil Trappe from NUI Maynooth through the Daniel O’Connell Fellowship.
Keywords:	Gaussian beam mode analysis; GBMA; classical phase aberrations; diffraction-limited optical systems;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Experimental Physics
Item ID:	9836
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/24/4/358
Depositing User:	Dr. Neil Trappe
Date Deposited:	27 Aug 2018 16:14
Journal or Publication Title:	European Journal of Physics
Publisher:	IOP Publishing
Refereed:	Yes
Funders:	Enterprise Ireland (EI), NUI Maynooth Daniel O'Connell fellowship
URI:	http://iopscience.iop.org
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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