Defining the effective radius of curvature for a nonideal optical beam
- 1 May 1991
- journal article
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics
- Vol. 27 (5) , 1146-1148
- https://doi.org/10.1109/3.83370
Abstract
A simple expression is given for evaluating the effective or average radius of curvature R(z) of an arbitrarily wrinkled, distorted, or nondiffraction-limited optical beam. This real-beam radius of curvature obeys the same free-space propagation equation as does the wavefront curvature of an ideal Gaussian beam. Extracting this correctable curvature from the beam at any plane simultaneously collimates the beam, makes that location a waist for the real beam, and minimizes the far-field beam divergence starting from that position.Keywords
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