Abstract

We present a numerical study of the structured light produced by a laser beam transmitted by a symmetric pyramidal prism. From the Fresnel diffraction formulation, we obtain expressions for the amplitudes valid for an arbitrary number of prism faces, and for both acute and flat-topped prisms. The expressions are readily evaluated numerically and are a significant advancement over the restrictive plane wave models used in prior work. We consider applications in optical trapping and give examples in which the intensity distributions contain a number of bright spots having similar power, as is suitable for the simultaneous trapping of several particles. We also consider applications in lithography and, under other conditions, obtain results in which uniform periodic intensity patterns are produced. Advantages of employing pyramidal prisms in such applications are their excellent stability and their efficiency in the production of structured light.

© 2021 Optical Society of America

Structuring by multi-beam interference using symmetric pyramids

Ming Lei, Baoli Yao, and Romano A. Rupp
Opt. Express 14(12) 5803-5811 (2006)

Structuring a terahertz beam by using a 3D-printed n-faced pyramid lens

Qian Huang, Wei Liu, Yongqiang Yang, Long Xiao, Zhengang Yang, Jinsong Liu, and Kejia Wang
Opt. Express 29(8) 12124-12130 (2021)

Enlightening Arago–Poisson spot using structured light

Matthew Harland, Svetlana N. Khonina, and Ilya Golub
Appl. Opt. 60(24) 7432-7436 (2021)

Separation of multiple images via directional guidance using structured prism and pyramid arrays

Hyemin Lee, Hyein Seo, Sunghwan Kang, and Hyunsik Yoon
Opt. Express 24(18) 20956-20962 (2016)

Underwater hyperspectral imaging system using a prism–grating–prism structure

Qingsheng Xue, Zhongtian Tian, Bai Yang, Jishen Liang, Chang Li, Fupeng Wang, and Qian Li
Appl. Opt. 60(4) 894-900 (2021)