Abstract

Theoretical and experimental aspects of the diffraction of gaussian laser beams by the straight edge bounding an opaque plane are investigated. Theoretical analysis is based upon the Kirchhoff scalar wave theory in the Fresnel limit, assuming an incident electromagnetic field having spatial amplitude and phase variation appropriate to a fundamental-mode gaussian beam. Experimental observation consisting of irradiance as a function of position is in good agreement with this theory. Both theoretical and experimental results are found to depend strongly on gaussian-beam parameters.

© 1969 Optical Society of America

Edge-On Diffraction of a Gaussian Laser Beam by a Semi-Infinite Plane

G. Otis and J. W. Y. Lit
Appl. Opt. 14(5) 1156-1160 (1975)

Near Fields of Truncated-Gaussian Apertures*

J. P. Campbell and L. G. DeShazer
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59(11) 1427-1429 (1969)

Generalization of the Angular Spectrum of Plane Waves and the Diffraction Transform*

George C. Sherman and Hans J. Bremermann
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59(2) 146-156 (1969)

Log-Amplitude Fluctuations of Laser Beam in a Turbulent Atmosphere

T. L. Ho
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59(4) 385-390 (1969)

Log-Amplitude Mean for Laser-Beam Propagation in the Atmosphere*

F. G. Gebhardt and S. A. Collins
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 59(9) 1139-1148 (1969)