Fresnel diffraction and fractal patterns from polygonal apertures

Huang, JG; Christian, JM; McDonald, GS

Abstract

Two compact analytical descriptions of Fresnel diffraction patterns from polygonal apertures under uniform illumination are detailed. In particular, a simple expression for the diffracted field from constituent edges is derived. These results have fundamental importance as well as specific applications, and they promise new physical insights into diffraction-related phenomena. The usefulness of the formulations is illuminated in the context of a virtual source theory that accounts for two transverse dimensions. This application permits calculation of fractal unstable-resonator modes of arbitrary order and unprecedented accuracy.

Citation

Huang, J., Christian, J., & McDonald, G. (2006). Fresnel diffraction and fractal patterns from polygonal apertures. https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAA.23.002768

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2006
• Deposit Date: Aug 22, 2007
• Journal: Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics, Image Science & Vision (JOSA A)
• Print ISSN: 10847529
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 2768-2774
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAA.23.002768
• Keywords: Apertures, diffraction theory, lasers and laser optics, laser resonators
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/JOSAA.23.002768