Nonparaxial Propagation of Vectorial Elliptical Gaussian Beams

Abstract

Based on the vectorial Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral formulae, analytical expressions for a vectorial elliptical Gaussian beam's nonparaxial propagating in free space are derived and used to investigate target beam's propagation properties. As a special case of nonparaxial propagation, the target beam's paraxial propagation has also been examined. The relationship of vectorial elliptical Gaussian beam's intensity distribution and nonparaxial effect with elliptic coefficient α and waist width related parameter f ω has been analyzed. Results show that no matter what value of elliptic coefficient α is, when parameter f ω is large, nonparaxial conclusions of elliptical Gaussian beam should be adopted; while parameter f ω is small, the paraxial approximation of elliptical Gaussian beam is effective. In addition, the peak intensity value of elliptical Gaussian beam decreases with increasing the propagation distance whether parameter f ω is large or small, and the larger the elliptic coefficient α is, the faster the peak intensity value decreases. These characteristics of vectorial elliptical Gaussian beam might find applications in modern optics.