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Helmholtz Equation: U (R, T) U (R) Exp2 T

The document discusses the Helmholtz equation and its solutions, including plane waves, spherical waves, paraboloidal waves, and Gaussian beams. Key points are: (1) The Helmholtz equation describes wave propagation and its solutions include various wave types; (2) Gaussian beams are solutions to the paraxial Helmholtz equation and have an intensity profile that varies with the beam width as it propagates; (3) The Rayleigh range z0 is an important parameter for Gaussian beams where the beam radius is sqrt(2) the waist radius and the phase is retarded by π/4.

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55 views

Helmholtz Equation: U (R, T) U (R) Exp2 T

The document discusses the Helmholtz equation and its solutions, including plane waves, spherical waves, paraboloidal waves, and Gaussian beams. Key points are: (1) The Helmholtz equation describes wave propagation and its solutions include various wave types; (2) Gaussian beams are solutions to the paraxial Helmholtz equation and have an intensity profile that varies with the beam width as it propagates; (3) The Rayleigh range z0 is an important parameter for Gaussian beams where the beam radius is sqrt(2) the waist radius and the phase is retarded by π/4.

Uploaded by

arthaaaaa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Helmholtz Equation

Consider the function U to be complex and of the


form:

r
r
U( r ,t) = U( r )exp(2"#t )

Then the wave equation reduces to

r
r
2
" U( r ) + k U( r ) = 0
2

where

2#$ %
k"
=
c
c

Helmholtz equation

!
P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Plane wave

The wave
is a solution of the Helmholtz equations.

Consider the wavefront, e.g., the points located at a constant phase,


usually defined as phase=2q.

For the present case the wavefronts are decribed by


which are equation of planes separated by .

The optical intensity is proportional to |U|2 and is |A|2 (a constant)

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Spherical and paraboloidal waves

A spherical wave is described by

and is solution of the Helmholtz equation.

In spherical coordinate, the Laplacian is given by

The wavefront are spherical shells

Considering

give the paraboloidal wave:


-ikz

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

The paraxial Helmholtz equation

Start with Helmholtz equation

Consider the wave


Complex
amplitude

Complex
envelope

which is a plane wave (propagating along z) transversely modulated


by the complex amplitude A.
Assume the modulation is a slowly varying function of z (slowly here
mean slow compared to the wavelength)
A variation of A can be written as

So that

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

The paraxial Helmholtz equation

So

Expand the Laplacian


Transverse
Laplacian

The longitudinal derivative is

Plug back in Helmholtz equation

Which finally gives the paraxial Helmholtz equation (PHE):

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Gaussian Beams I

The paraboloid wave is solution of the PHE

Doing the change


is still a solution of PHE)

If complex, the wave is of Gaussian type and we write

give a shifted paraboloid wave (which

where z0 is the Rayleigh range

We also introduce
Wavefront
curvature
P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Beam width

Gaussian Beams II

R and W can be related to z and z0:

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Gaussian Beams III

Expliciting A in U gives

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Gaussian Beams IV

Introducing the phase

we finally get

where

This equation describes a Gaussian beam.

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Intensity distribution of a Gaussian Beam

The optical intensity is given by

z/z0
P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Intensity distribution

Transverse intensity distribution at different z locations


-4z0

-2z0

z/z0

-z0

-4z0

-2z0

-z0

Corresponding profiles

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Intensity distribution (cntd)

On-axis intensity as a function of z is given by

z/z0

z/z0
P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Wavefront radius

The curvature of the wavefront is given by

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Beam width and divergence

Beam width is given by

For large z

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Depth of focus

A depth of focus can be defined from the Rayleigh range

2
2z0

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Phase

The argument as three terms

Spherical distortion
of the wavefront
Phase associated
to plane wave

Guoy
phase shift

On axis (=0) the phase still has the Guoy shift

Varies from
-/2 to +/2

At z0 the Guoy shift is /4

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

Summary

At z0
Beam radius is sqrt(2) the waist radius
On-axis intensity is 1/2 of intensity at waist location
The phase on beam axis is retarded by /4 compared to a plane
wave
The radius of curvature is the smallest.

Near beam waist


The beam may be approximated by a plane wave (phase ~kz).

Far from the beam wait


The beam behaves like a spherical wave (except for the phase
excess introduced by the Guoy phase)

P. Piot, PHYS 630 Fall 2008

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