Coherence Properties and Intensity Distribution of a Partially Coherent Lorentz–Gauss Beam Emerging from the Axicon

The propagation of a partially Lorentz–Gauss beam in a uniform-intensity diffractive axicon is studied according to the Huygens–Fresnel principle, the Hermite–Gaussian expansion of a Lorentz function, and using the stationary phase method. We have derived the intensity equation of a partially coherent Lorentz-Gauss beams propagating through uniform-intensity diffractive axicon, and we proved mathematically that it is the superposition of Bessel beams of various orders after emerging from axicon, using Hermite’s function series and the Bessel function integral formulas. The results show that the intensity distribution of the diffracted beam is the intensity pattern evolved from a Lorentz–Gauss shaped spot into a Gaussian-shaped spot at any position on the focal length of the axicon, and the intensity distribution of a partially Lorentz–Gauss beam generated by an axicon becomes uniform by increasing the beam width and more uniform and constant with the larger coherence width.

The investigation of the features of focusing vortex super-Gaussian beams with a variable-height diffractive axicon

Spatial intensity distributions of the Laguerre-superGauss modes (1,0) as well as a super-Gaussian beam with radial and circular polarization were investigated versus changes in the height of a diffractive axicon. The height of the relief of the optical element varied from 0.25λ to 3λ. The modeling by a finite-difference time-domain method showed that variations in the height of the diffractive axicon significantly affect the diffraction pattern in the near field of the axicon. The smallest focal spot size for a super-Gaussian beam was obtained for radial polarization at a height equal to two wavelengths. The minimum size of the focal spot for the Laguerre-superGauss mode (1,0) was obtained for circular "–" polarization with an element height equal to a quarter of the wavelength.

Optomechanics of a stable diffractive axicon light sail

Beamed propulsion of a light sail based on radiation pressure benefits from a passively self-stabilizing “beam riding” diffractive film. We describe the optomechanics of a rigid non-spinning light sail that mitigates catastrophic sail walk-off and tumbling by use of a flat axicon diffraction grating. A linear stability analysis and numerical integration of the coupled translational and rotational equations of motion are examined. Stability is traded against longitudinal acceleration. The examined system achieves 90% of the theoretical longitudinal force limit and stability against a relative sail translation up to 30% of the sail radius when the payload is attached to a long boom.