Beam propagation in ABCD optical systems enclosed by a circular metal waveguide

Anthony A. Tovar, Ph. D.

Abstract:

Diffraction integrals governing the propagation of light beams through optical systems enclosed by a circular metal waveguide, but otherwise representable by complex beam matrices, are obtained. It is also shown that under certain circumstances, the beam profile of a linearly polarized Gaussian beam will recur. This phenomena can be used to efficiently transport beams of light produced by a laser without distorting the beam.