Phase and group velocity of focused, pulsed Gaussian beams in the presence and absence of primary aberrations

Abstract

This work presents a study on the phase- and group-velocity variations of focused, pulsed Gaussian beams during the propagation through the focal region along the optical axis. In the aberration-free case, it is discussed how the wavelength dependence of beam properties alters the group velocity, and how a chromatic aberration-like effect can arise even when focusing is performed with an element that does not have chromatic aberration. It is also examined what effects primary spherical aberration, astigmatism, coma, curvature of field and distortion, along with chromatic aberration, have on the phase- and group-velocity changes occurring during propagation through focus.