Open AccessWhite light conical diffraction
Author(s) -
R. T. Darcy,
David McCloskey,
K. E. Ballantine,
Brian D. Jennings,
J. G. Lunney,
P. R. Eastham,
John F. Donegan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.21.020394
Subject(s) - optics , diffraction , wavelength , conical surface , materials science , light beam , paraxial approximation , fresnel diffraction , crystal (programming language) , crystal optics , physics , beam (structure) , laser , computer science , composite material , programming language
Conical diffraction occurs when light is incident along the optic axis of a biaxial crystal. The light spreads out into a hollow cone inside the crystal, emerging as a hollow cylinder. The intensity distribution beyond the crystal is described using an adapted paraxial wave dispersion model. We show, experimentally and theoretically, how this results in a transition from conical diffraction for wavelengths at which the crystal is aligned to double refraction for misaligned wavelengths when using a white light source. The radius of the ring and location of the focal image plane (FIP) are also observed to have a wavelength dependency. The evolution of the conically diffracted beam beyond the FIP into the far field is studied and successfully described using a theoretical model.