Partially coherent nonparaxial Hermite-Gaussian beams and their propagation properties

摘要

The concept of partially coherent nonparaxial Hermite-Gaussian (HG) beams is proposed. By using the generalized Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral, the closed-form propagation equations of partially coherent nonparaxial HG beams in free space are derived. The on-axis intensity, far-field and paraxial expressions, and specifically, the free-space propagation equations of partially coherent nonparaxial Gaussian Schell-model beams are given, and treated as special cases of our results. It is found that the f and f delta parameters play a crucial role in determining the nonparaxiality of partially coherent TEMmn-mode HG beams. Only if the f and f(sigma) parameters are small enough, the paraxial approximation is applicable. (C) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.