Skip to main content
Log in

Wide-angle diffraction of the laser beam by a sharp edge

  • Published:
Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics Aims and scope

Abstract

Using a rigorous theory of diffraction, we explain the origin and analyze the structure of a wide-angle illuminated area observed when a limited beam is diffracted by the sharp edge of an opaque screen. It is shown that the formed plume has the structure of a cylindrical wave traveling from the screen edge and its amplitude is proportional to the beam amplitude at this edge. The observed structure is Young’s boundary wave produced by diffraction of the limited beam.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. M. Born and E. Wolf, Principles of Optics, Pergamon Press, New York (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  2. A. Sommerfeld, Optics, Academic Press, New York (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  3. J. E. Pearson, T. C. McGill, S. Kurtin, and A. Yariv, J. Opt. Soc. Am., 59, 1440 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  4. A. C. Green, H. L. Bertoni, and L. B. Felsen, J. Opt. Soc. Am., 69, 1503 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  5. G. A. Suedan and E. V. Jull, J. Electromagn. Waves Appl., 3, 17 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  6. G. A. Suedan and E. V. Jull, Comput. Phys. Commun., 68, 346 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  7. T. Takenaka and O. Fukumitsu, J. Opt. Soc. Am., 72, 331 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  8. G. A. Suedan and E. V. Jull, J. Electromagn. Waves Appl., 6, 287 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  9. S. Anokhov, A. Khizhnyak, and R. Lymarenko, Sem. Phys. Quant. Electron. Opt., 3, 94 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  10. L. E. R. Petersson and G. S. Smith, J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, 19, 2265 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  11. A. I. Khizhnyak, S. P. Anokhov, R. A. Lymarenko, et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, 17, 2199 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  12. J. F. Nye and M. V. Berry, Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A, 336, 165 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 47, Nos. 10–11, pp. 1032– 1039, October–November, 2004.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Anokhov, S.P., Lymarenko, R.A. & Khizhnyak, A.I. Wide-angle diffraction of the laser beam by a sharp edge. Radiophys Quantum Electron 47, 926–932 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11141-005-0034-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11141-005-0034-5

Keywords

Navigation