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PL-Lect4 Fourier Optics
PL-Lect4 Fourier Optics
M. Karlsson
Introduction
Propagation of light in free space
• Spatial harmonic functions and plane waves
• Transfer function of free space
Photonics Lecture IV 9
*) Greek letter
"n", pronounced
see FoP, App. A
'nu' (like [new]).
Optical systems
Fourier optics → light propagation through linear optical components (including free
space) is described using a linear-system approach. (Works since wave equation is
linear.)
Complex amplitudes in two transverse planes (i.e. planes normal to the optic (z)
axis) are regarded as the input and output of the system.
The system is characterized by either:
the impulse-response function (point spread function) = response to impulse (point) at
input; or by
the transfer function = response to spatial harmonic functions.
In the z = 0 plane:
U(x,y,0) is identical to harmonic function f(x,y) = A exp(-j2π(νxx + νyy))
νx = kx/2π , νy = ky/2π = spatial frequencies (cycles/m)
kx, ky = spatial angular frequencies (radians/m)
If f(x,y) = sum of harmonic functions of different 𝜈x and 𝜈y the plane wave is converted into sum of
plane waves propagating in different directions; each spatial frequency is mapped into its direction.
Example 2:
A diffraction grating, f(x,y) = 0.5( 1 + cos(2π𝜈xx) ) = 0.5 + 0.25·(exp(-j2π𝜈xx) + exp(j2π𝜈xx)):
Plane wave is split into 3 parts traveling at angles ± sin-1(λ𝜈x), and a portion of it travels straight
through.
Example 4.1-3 e)
Calculate the plane wave content of a grating having this wave amplitude in the z=0-plane:
f(x)
X x 2m10
f (x) = rect( )
m
10 x/λ
5 10 20 40
This is thus a grating with 1 line per 20 wavelengths, i.e., λ/Λ=1/20
Solution:
Will be demoed. 1
X x 1 n⇡
f (x) = cn exp(jn2⇡ ) c0 = 1/2 cn = sin( )
1) Express f(x) in a Fourier series n= 1
20 ⇡n 2
2) Each term is a plane wave with its own propagation direction (k-vector)
3) In the far field (far from the grating) each plane wave will produce a
bright dot with amplitude given by the Fourier series coefficient.
20 r
X 2⇡ n n 2
U (x, z) = cn exp[j (x z 1 ( ) )] f(x) g(x)
n= 20
20 20
n=2
n=1
n=0
n=-1
n=-2
General case
General case: f(x,y) = superposition integral of harmonic functions,
Z Z
f (x, y) = F (⌫x , ⌫y ) exp( j2⇡(⌫x x + ⌫y y)]d⌫x d⌫y
q q
2⇡
kz = k 2 kx2 ky2 = 1 ( ⌫x )2 ( ⌫y )2
where
1
Spatial frequencies inside the circle 2
⌫x2 + ⌫y2 <
Fresnel approximation
The transfer function cannot be easily integrated (analytically)
so we will consider approximations of it.
Assume small spatial frequencies, i.e.
q 2
1 2 (⌫ 2
x + ⌫y2 ) ⇡ 1 (⌫x2 + ⌫y2 )
2
so approximately, the transfer function becomes
8
I(x,y,d) = g(x,y)2 = 1 C(X) +
2 2
+
2
S(X) +
2 ( ) (
1 2 1M. Karlsson1
)
Example of Fresnel diffraction - the semi-infinite
X2=2x2/( d)
screen
e semi-infinite
Take for example f(x,y)=H(x) where H is the Heaviside step
function (1 for positive x, zero elsewhere). This diffraction pattern
C(X) =
X
cos(
2
2
)d
are the C(X)
0.8
0.7
0.6
1 1 2 1 X
integrals
0.3
) d2 2
2
I(x, y, d) = |g(x, y)| = ((C(X) + ) + (S(X) + ) ) S(X) = sin(
22
0.2
S(X)
2 0 2 0.1
om a largewhere
screenXcovering
0
2
= 2x 2 /λd
0 1 2 3
calculated by taking
andstep
e Heaviside C and S are Fresnel integrals.
function. 3
x 2
πt
2 ∫0
) ( )
2 2
X) + 1 1
+C(x) =S(X)cos( 1
+ )dt
1
2 22 0
x
πt 2
∫0
-1
d) S(x) = sin( )dt
2 -2
0.8
-3
0.7 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
C(X) 0.6
0.5
I(X) 1.4
0.4
1.2
1
Wave Optics
Ray Optics
0.3 0.8
0.6
0.2
0.1
S(X) 0.4
0.2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
0
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 X
Fresnel diffraction
patterns are easy to see
— if you take pictures
with coherent (laser) light!
(needs magnification and
coherent light to be
observable).
See a nice video here.
Fresnel zones
Instead of solving the convolution integral for circular apertures a
more intuitive approach based on Fresnel zones can be used.
The first Fresnel zone consists of all points inside the radius r1. The
second Fresnel zones of all points with radius between r1 and r2
y The amplitude at (0,0,d) is the integral (=sum)
r2 of small (complex) contributions from
d+2λ/2
r1 d infinitesimal rings at radius r. This sum spirals
d+λ/2 z slowly inwards as we integrate over the
transverse plane.
rN = Nλd
Im(U)
Re(U)
FZ3
FZ1
FZ5
FZ3
FZ1
Fraunhofer diffraction
Consider the limit when d is long (e.g. d >> a2/λ - longer than
required for the Fresnel approximation). If the exponent is
approximated as (x-x’)2≈x2-2xx’, the convolution integral becomes
Z Z
k x y
g(x, y) = C f (x0 , y 0 ) exp[j (xx0 + yy 0 )]dx0 dy 0 = CF ( , )
d d d
which is the direct Fourier transform of f(x,y)!
Physical explanantion: only one plane wave component
contributes to the complex amplitude at the point (x,y) in the
output plane.
a
b
2λ d
2λd
a a
b
2.44 λd/a
J1(x) 0.6
πby J 1(πar )
sin( πax ) sin( )
U(x,y,d) = C λd
0.4
U(x,y,d) = C λd λd πar
πax πby
0.2
λd λd
λd 2 4 6 8 10 The Bessel
x
-0.2
function of
order 1
Aperture Far-field pattern
A period
A set of rectangles rectangle
at random positions
Diffraction - summary
At increasing distances form the aperture one observes:
• Shadow of the aperture
• Fresnel diffraction pattern, i.e. aperture function convolved with
exp[jk(x2+y2)/(2d)]
• Fraunhofer diffraction pattern, i.e. the Fourier transform of the aperture
function. Far field has angular divergence proportional to λ/D.