UE SPM-PHY-S07-101 Gaussian Beams: N. Fressengeas

Fundamentals of Gaussian beam propagation
Matrix methods for geometrical and Gaussian optics
UE SPM-PHY-S07-101
Gaussian Beams
N. Fressengeas
Laboratoire Matériaux Optiques, Photonique et Systèmes

Unité de Recherche commune à l’Université Paul Verlaine Metz et à Supélec
Download this document from

http://moodle.univ-metz.fr/
N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 1

Further reading
[KL66, GB94]
A. Gerrard and J.M. Burch.

Introduction to matrix methods in optics.
Dover, 1994.
H. KOGELNIK and T. LI.
Laser beams and resonators.
Appl. Opt., 5(10):1550–1567, Oct 1966.

Course Outline
1 Fundamentals of Gaussian beam propagation

Gaussian beams vs. plane waves
The fundamental mode
Higher order modes
2 Matrix methods for geometrical and Gaussian optics

Linear algebra for geometrical optics
A few simple matrices
Matrix method for Gaussian beams

Higher order modes
Plane waves do not exist

Waves carrying an infinite amount of energy cannot come into existence
Planes waves
Plane wave have a homogeneous transversal electric field
Ponting’s vector norm, and power density, are also
homogeneous
Total carried power is infinite
Practical use of plane wave theory: usual unsaid approximation
Plane waves of finite extent are often used
Strictly speaking, they are not plane waves
To what extent can we assume they are plane waves ?

Higher order modes
Plane waves, Gaussian beams. . . what else ?

Solutions of the wave equations: one finds only those he was searching for
−−→ −
→
1 ∂2 E
Solving the wave equation △E = c 2 ∂t 2
Vectorial Partial Derivatives Equations
Solutions are numerous
An ansatz1 is needed to seek solutions
Gaussian beams as an ansatz
We will find another family of solutions
We never pretend to get them all
1
An ansatz is an a priori hypothesis on the form of the sought solution.
Higher order modes
Gaussian ansatz
Plugging the ansatz into the wave equation builds the envelope equation
Introducing a space dependent envelope

−
→ −
→− →
Plane wave: E0 × e −ı̇ k · r
Gaussian ansatz : u (x, y , z) →
−
ex × e −ı̇kz
u (x, y , z) : complex beam envelope
−
→
ex unit vector
The envelope u (x, y , z) is our new unknown
Envelope equation
Scalar harmonic wave equation: △E + k 2 E = 0
Envelope equation: △u − 2ı̇k ∂u
∂z = 0

Higher order modes
The paraxial approximation

Also known as Gauss conditions, Slow Varying Envelope. . .
Non Paraxial Beam Paraxial Beam

Higher order modes
Paraxial approximation and partial derivatives

Assuming small angles is equivalent to neglecting z derivatives
Transversal variation vs. longitudinal variation

Non Paraxial Beam Paraxial Beam
Transversal Laplacian
∂2 ∂2
≪ △ ≈ △⊥
∂z 2 ∂x 2

Higher order modes
A first solution to the paraxial wave equation

The simplest one, though probably the more important
Wave Propagation Equation A simple ansatz

∂u “
k
r2
”
△⊥ u − 2ı̇k =0 u=e
−ı̇ P(z)+ 2q(z)
∂z
Complex beam radius q (z)
Real part: phase variations Phase shift P (z)
Imaginary part: intensity Phase shift with respect to the
variations plane wave
Plugging ansatz: q ′ = 1 qP ′ + ı̇ = 0
Integration: q (z) = q (0) + z

Higher order modes
The complex beam radius q (z) “ ”

k r2
−ı̇ P(z)+ 2q(z)
A closer look to the signification on a complex parameter u=e
A complex parameter is linked to two real ones
1 1 λ
q = R − ı̇ πW 2
The ansatz re-written

2
r2
“ ”
−ı̇ P(z)+k 2R(z) − r 2
u=e W (z) e
1/e
2W

Higher order modes
Spherical wavefront of radius R at abscissa z
Phase at abscissa z R radius spherical wavefront

Constant phase on sphere d
Phase ∝ d, r ≪ R
√
d = R − R2 − r 2 r
r2
d≈ 2R
R z
Gaussian ansatz
2
r2
“ ”
−ı̇ P(z)+k 2R(z) − r 2
u=e e
W (z)

Higher order modes
Gaussian Beam Complex Amplitude

Where the Gaussian beam amplitude is derived from the ansatz and q ′ = 1
A quick summary
“ ”
k
−ı̇ P(z)+ 2q(z) r2
Ansatz : u = e
1 1 λ
Complex beam radius : q = R − ı̇ πW 2
Beam radius equation : q ′ = 1 q (z) = q (0) + z

Assuming a plane wavefront for z = 0
πW02
q (0) = ı̇ λ
2
λz
W 2 (z)= W02
1 + πW 2
0
2 2
πW
R (z) = z 1 + λz0

Higher order modes
Gaussian »Beam Intensity

– “ ”2
W 2 (z) = W02 1 + λz
πW02
W 0
Asymptotes
γ λz λz
πW02
≫1 ⇒ W (z) ≈ πW0
λ
γ= πW0
W0 : Beam Waist

Higher order modes
Gaussian
»
wavefront
–
curvature
”2
πW02
“
R (z) = z 1 + λz
Plane and spherical limits

W 0
For small z : R = ∞
plane wavefront
For high z : R ≈ z
spherical wavefront

Higher order modes
The Rayleigh length

A quantitative criterion to decide whether a Gaussian beam is plane or spherical
λz
Plane for small z πW02
≪1
W (z) ≈ W0
lim R (z) = ∞
z→0
W0
λz
Spherical for high z πW02
≫1
λz LR
W (z) ≈
πW0
R (z) ≈ z
The Rayleigh length is the limit
πW02
LR =
λ

Higher order modes
The homogeneous
“ ”
phase shift P (z)
−ı̇ k r2
P(z)+ 2q(z)
u=e
Recall the equation

ı̇
qP ′ + ı̇ = 0 ⇔ P ′ (z) = −
z + ı̇LR
Integrate it

W0 z
P (z) = ı̇ ln W (z) − tan−1 LR
Complex phase meaning

Real part : Phase shift with respect to plane wave
Imaginary part: WW(z)
0
factor to ensure energy conservation

Higher order modes
The fundamental Gaussian mode

General expression
„ «
1 k
W0 −ı̇[kz+P(z)]−r 2 W (z)2
+ı̇ 2R(z)
E (r , z) = e
W (z)
With, in (nearly) the order of appearance on the screen
2
W 2 (z) = W02 1 + LzR
2
R (z) = z 1 + LzR

P (z) = −tan−1 LzR
πW02
Rayleigh length LR = λ
λ W0
Diffraction half angle: γ ≈ πW0 = LR

Higher order modes
High order Hermite-Gaussian modes

A Cartesian family of higher order modes
Ansatz
“ ”
x y k
−ı̇ P(z)+ 2q(z) (x 2 +y 2 )
u(x, y , z) = g h e
W (z) W (z)
Plugged into the wave equation
q′ = 1
∂g ∂g
∃m ∈ N, − 2x + 2mg = 0
∂x 2 x
∂h ∂h
∃n ∈ N, 2
− 2y + 2nh = 0
∂y y
qP ′ + (1 + m + n)j = 0

Higher order modes
Behavior of Hermite-Gaussian modes

Each mode is a mere space modulation of the fundamental
q′ = 1
Same equation for q as in the fundamental mode
W (z) and R (z) retain their meanings and properties
Rayleigh length and diffraction angle are unchanged
∂2g
∂x 2
− 2x ∂g
x + 2mg = 0
∂h
∂y 2
− 2y ∂h
y + 2nh = 0
Solutions are, by definition, the orthogonal Hermite
polynomials
H0 = 1, H1 = x, H2 = 4x 2 − 1, H3 = 8x 3 − 12x . . .
Hn has degree n
√ √
g Wx(z) h Wy(z) = Hm 2 Wx(z) Hn 2 Wy(z)

Higher order modes
Intensity profiles of Hermite Gaussian (HG) modes

The intensity if proportional to the squared envelope

Higher order modes
High order Laguerre-Gaussian modes

A cylindrical family of higher order modes
Ansatz
“ ”
r k
−ı̇ P(z)+ 2q(z) r 2 +lφ
u(r , φ, z) = g e
W (z)
Plugged into the wave equation
q′ = 1
∂2g ∂g
∃ (l, p) ∈ N2 , r 2
− (l + 1 − x) + pg = 0
∂r x
qP ′ + (1 + 2p + l)j = 0

Higher order modes
Behavior of Laguerre-Gaussian modes

Each mode is a mere space modulation of the fundamental
q′ = 1 same as HG modes
Same equation for q as in the fundamental mode
W (z) and R (z) retain their meanings and properties
Rayleigh length and diffraction angle are unchanged
2
r ∂∂rg2 − (l + 1 − x) ∂g
x + pg = 0
Solutions are, by definition, the orthogonal generalized
Laguerre polynomials
(l) (l) (l) x2
L0 = 1, L1 = −x +l +1, L2 = 2 −(l + 2) x + (l+1)(l+2)
2
(l)
Lm has degree m
√ l
(l) 2
g Wr(z) = 2 Wr(z) Lp 2 Wr2 (z)

Higher order modes
Intensity profiles of Laguerre Gaussian (LG) modes

LG (0, 0) LG (0, 1) : vortex LG (0, 2)

Higher order modes
Intensity profiles of other Laguerre Gaussian (LG) modes

LG (1, 2) LG (1, 3) LG (2, 3)

Higher order modes
Homogeneous phase shift is different for high order modes

qP ′ + (1 + m + n)j = 0 qP ′ + (1 + 2p + l)j = 0
A small phase difference between modes around the beam waist

Slightly different optical paths for different orders
Slightly different oscillating frequencies in lasers
Usually forgotten

Geometrical optics framework

Where is is shown that rays are not so thin as you may think
Geometrical optics do not deal with thin rays

λ
A thin ray has a thin waist: it should diffract γ= πW0
Thin rays are seldom alone: their meaning is collective
A ray is a Poynting vector curve
A bunch of rays describes a wavefront
Do geometrical optics deal with plane and spherical waves ?
Parallel rays imply a plane wavefront
Converging or diverging rays imply a spherical wavefront
But neither of them has an infinite extension !

Geometrical optic is Gaussian optics
Transversely limited plane waves Parallel rays

Gaussian Beams within their Rayleigh zone
Transversely limited spherical waves Con(Di)verging rays

Gaussian Beams far from their Rayleigh zone
Orders of magnitude
He-Ne laser: W0 ≈ 1mm, λ = 633nm, LR ≈ 5m
GSM Antenna: W0 ≈ 1m, λ ≈ 33cm, LR ≈ 10m

Geometrical optics is linear

Geometrical optics stems entirely from Descartes law n1 sin (θ1 ) = n2 sin (θ2 )
Descartes made paraxial

Paraxial approximation : θ ≪ 1 n1 θ1 ≈ n2 θ2
Geometrical optics is linear algebra
Paraxial Descartes is linear
Straight line propagation is linear
The behavior of a ray through any optical system can be
described linearly

Matrix geometrical optics

A 2 dimensional linear algebra framework

y
The ray vector v=
θ
θ
y : distance from the axis y
θ : angle to the axis
An optical system v ′ = Mv
M is a 2 × 2 real matrix v
It can describe any centered
paraxial optical system v′

Optical system composition

Optical system composition reduced to matrix product
Optical System Composition
v M1 M2
v′ v ′′
Matrix Composition
v ′ = M1 · v Complex systems
v ′′ = M2 · v ′ Compose simple systems
v ′′ = M2 M1 · v

Propagation in a homogeneous
„ «
medium
„ «
y′ y
= Md
θ′ θ
Light propagates in straight line

No direction change: θ′ = θ d
y ′ = y + d sin (θ)
Md y′
′
y 1 d y
=
θ′ 0 1 θ θ′ = θ
y

Passing through a plane„interface

« „ «
y′ y
= Mp
θ′ θ
Descartes
No propagation: y ′ = y
n sin (θ) = n′ sin (θ′ )
θ′ ≈ n θ′
n′ θ θ
Mp
′
y 1 0 y
′ = n n n′
θ 0 n′ θ

Passing through a thin lens

„ « „ «
y′ y
= Ml
θ′ θ
Two characteristic rays

No propagation: y ′ = y
Blue ray: y = 0 ⇒ θ′ = θ
Red ray: θ = 0 ⇒ θ′ = − f1 y
Ml
′
y 1 0 y
=
θ ′ − f1 1 θ

Passing through a (thin)„ spherical

« „ «
interface
y′ y
= Ms
θ′ θ
Descartes
Thin interface
No propagation: y ′ = y n n’
Blue ray: y ≈ Rθ ⇒ θ′ =θ
n
Red ray: y = 0 ⇒ θ′ ≈ n′ θ
Ms
′
y 1 0 y
′ = n′ −n n
θ n′ R n′
θ

Mirrors
Unfolding the light
Plane mirrors as if they did not exist

′
y 1 0 y
=
θ′ 0 1 θ
Spherical Mirrors are thin lenses

′
y 1 0 y
=
θ′ − R2 1 θ

Matrix property
A determinant property stemming from all the simple matrices determinants
n: start index n′ : stop index

n
∀M, det (M) = ′
n

Gaussian modes, propagation and lenses

A Gaussian mode does not change upon propagation of by passing through thin interfaces
or lenses
“ ”
k
(x 2 +y 2 )

−ı̇ P(z)+ 2q(z)
g x
W (z) h Wy(z) e
z independent modulation of the fundamental mode
Free space q ′ = 1 common property
Thin lens does not change mode profile
Common R (z) and W (z) behavior

All the modes share the same laws on q (z), R (z) and W (z)

Gaussian beam propagation: the ABCD law

The transformation of the complex radius q for simple optical systems
Free space q′ = 1 Thin lens 1
= 1
− 1
R′ R f
q′ = q + d 1 1
q′ − f1 ⇒ q ′ =
= q
1
− f1 q+1
1 d
Md =
0 1 1×q 0
Ml =
− f1 1
Plane interface n/n′ = R/R ′
q′ n′ 1×q Kogelnik’s ABCD law
q =⇒ q′ =
n n
n′ A B Aq + B

1 0
M= ⇒ q′ =
Mp = C D Cq + D
0 nn′
Geometrical and Gaussian optics are linked through paraxial approx.

Gaussian beam propagation can be evaluated, for any mode, using
simple matrix geometrical optics
Focal lens example

Using the ABCD law to verify that parallel rays do converge on the focal plane
Parallel input beam
d
Input plane : just before lens
Output plane : after length d
Input beam at waist: q0 = ı̇LR0
Propagation matrix
d
−f + 1 d
Md · Mf =
− f1 1
ABCD law
d for plane wavefront: imaginary q1
df + ı̇(f − d)LR0
q1 = f
f − ı̇LR0 d= 2
1 + LfR
0

UE SPM-PHY-S07-101 Gaussian Beams: N. Fressengeas

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

UE SPM-PHY-S07-101 Gaussian Beams: N. Fressengeas

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Fundamentals of Gaussian beam propagation

Matrix methods for geometrical and Gaussian optics

Laboratoire Matériaux Optiques, Photonique et Systèmes

Download this document from

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 1

A. Gerrard and J.M. Burch.

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 2

1 Fundamentals of Gaussian beam propagation

2 Matrix methods for geometrical and Gaussian optics

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 3

Plane waves do not exist

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 4

Plane waves, Gaussian beams. . . what else ?

Introducing a space dependent envelope

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 6

The paraxial approximation

Non Paraxial Beam Paraxial Beam

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 7

Paraxial approximation and partial derivatives

Transversal variation vs. longitudinal variation

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 8

A first solution to the paraxial wave equation

Wave Propagation Equation A simple ansatz

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 9

The complex beam radius q (z) “ ”

The ansatz re-written

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 10

Spherical wavefront of radius R at abscissa z

Phase at abscissa z R radius spherical wavefront

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 11

Gaussian Beam Complex Amplitude

Beam radius equation : q ′ = 1 q (z) = q (0) + z

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 12

Gaussian »Beam Intensity

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 13

Plane and spherical limits

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 14

The Rayleigh length

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 15

Recall the equation

Complex phase meaning

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 16

The fundamental Gaussian mode

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 17

High order Hermite-Gaussian modes

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 18

Behavior of Hermite-Gaussian modes

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 19

Intensity profiles of Hermite Gaussian (HG) modes

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 20

High order Laguerre-Gaussian modes

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 21

Behavior of Laguerre-Gaussian modes

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 22

Intensity profiles of Laguerre Gaussian (LG) modes

LG (0, 0) LG (0, 1) : vortex LG (0, 2)

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 23

Intensity profiles of other Laguerre Gaussian (LG) modes

LG (1, 2) LG (1, 3) LG (2, 3)

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 24

Homogeneous phase shift is different for high order modes

A small phase difference between modes around the beam waist

N. Fressengeas Gaussian Beams, version 1.0, frame 25