A new numerical algorithm for light propagation simulation has been developed. Algorithm enables simulation of the propagation of the sampled, coherent light field in off-axis case. Method is based on the convolution approach with off-axis kernel. Method provides exact results for distances z >> λ (wavelength) for light field intensity distribution. From the numerical point of view convolution operation is realized by twice utilization of the efficient Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm. However, it is worth to notice that off-axis kernel disables calculation of the propagation row by row and column by column. So new approach is necessary. In the proposed method of the light propagation simulation numerical effort is significantly decreased in comparison to numerical calculation of the two-dimensional integral. Numerical algorithm is included and described in this paper.

Date Published: 22 July 2004
PDF: 4 pages
Proc. SPIE 5484, Photonics Applications in Astronomy, Communications, Industry, and High-Energy Physics Experiments II, (22 July 2004); doi: 10.1117/12.568905

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5484:
Photonics Applications in Astronomy, Communications, Industry, and High-Energy Physics Experiments II
Ryszard S. Romaniuk, Editor(s)