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Propagation of super-Gaussian field distributions

  • ABCD Law, Propagation and Higher Order Moments
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Abstract

The near- and far-field propagation of initially super-Gaussian field distributions is discussed. upon propagation, the beam profile is shown to undergo distortions of a magnitude which increases with the super-Gaussian order. These distortions can lead to a significant increase of the on-axis intensity in the near-field. The beam quality, evaluated both in terms of the beam parameter product and theM 2 factor, is shown to decrease as the super-Gaussian order gets larger. These calculations also illustrate the difficulties associated with theM 2 factor when characterizing the propagation of a beam with increasingly sharp edges. The effect of the transmission of the super-Gaussian field through a super-Gaussian graded-reflectivity mirror (GRM) is also discussed. The results of this study have direct implication in the domain of GRM resonator design.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Optics Institute, 369 Franquet Street, G1P 4N8, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada

    A. Parent, M. Morin & P. Lavigne

Authors
  1. A. Parent
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  2. M. Morin
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  3. P. Lavigne
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Parent, A., Morin, M. & Lavigne, P. Propagation of super-Gaussian field distributions. Opt Quant Electron 24, S1071–S1079 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01588606

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01588606

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