Paraxial propagation of Lorentz and Lorentz–Gauss beams in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis

Abstract

Paraxial propagation of Lorentz and Lorentz–Gauss beams in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis is investigated based on the beam propagation equations. Analytical propagation formulae for Lorentz and Lorentz–Gauss beams in uniaxial crystals are derived. The derived propagation formulae reduce to the propagation formulae for Lorentz and Lorentz–Gauss beams in free space under certain conditions. The propagation properties of Lorentz and Lorentz–Gauss beams in uniaxial crystals and in free space are studied numerically and comparatively. It is found that the propagation properties of Lorentz and Lorentz–Gauss beams in uniaxial crystals behave very differently from those in free space, and are closely determined by the parameters of the uniaxial crystals. The uniaxial crystals provide an effective way for generating astigmatic beams.

Keywords:

• Lorentz beams
• Lorentz Gaussian beams
• propagation properties
• uniaxial crystals

Acknowledgements

This research is supported by the Foundation for the Author of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of P.R. China under Grant No. 200928, the Natural Science of Jiangsu Province under Grant No. BK2009114 and National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 10904102 and 10974177.