Open AccessOn-axis diffraction of an ultrashort light pulse by circularly symmetric hard apertures
Author(s) -
Omel Mendoza-Yero,
Gladys Mı́nguez-Vega,
Jesús Láncis,
Mercedes FernándezAlonso,
Vicent Climent
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.004546
Subject(s) - optics , diffraction , physics , ultrashort pulse , aperture (computer memory) , intensity (physics) , light intensity , optical axis , pulse (music) , pulse shaping , rayleigh scattering , laser , lens (geology) , detector , acoustics
The analytical solution of the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld on-axis diffraction integral for an ultrashort light pulse diffracted by circularly symmetric hard apertures is derived. The particular case of a circular aperture is treated in detail. The time changes of the instantaneous intensity along the axial direction are predicted. An analysis of the standard deviation width shows a pulse broadening about the axial positions where the instantaneous intensity reaches a zero value. We show that the temporal shape of the instantaneous intensity depends on the number of oscillation cycles at the central frequency of the real electric field.