Abstract

The analytical solution is derived, within the Rayleigh–Sommerfeld formulation of diffraction, for the on-axis spectral irradiance of a broadband source after diffracting through a circular symmetric hard aperture. By using this solution, and within the paraxial approximation, we investigate several diffraction-induced effects originated by binary diffractive optical elements made up of a set of annular apertures with equal areas and periodic in the squared radial coordinate. In particular, the ability to focus femtosecond pulses is investigated. In addition, the analysis of the spectral modifier function associated with these elements allows us to simulate spectral shifts at focus positions. Finally, we introduce a relatively simple and low-cost technique to slice the spectrum of a broadband source in order to generate narrow bands or wavelength channels.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

Spectral analysis of femtosecond pulse diffraction through binary diffractive optical elements: theory and experiment

Omel Mendoza-Yero, Gladys Mínguez-Vega, Jesús Lancis, Enrique Tajahuerce, and Vicent Climent
Opt. Express 16(4) 2541-2546 (2008)

Spatio-temporal characterization of ultrashort pulses diffracted by circularly symmetric hard-edge apertures: theory and experiment

Omel Mendoza-Yero, Benjamín Alonso, Oscar Varela, Gladys Mínguez-Vega, Íñigo Juan Sola, Jesús Lancis, Vicent Climent, and Luis Roso
Opt. Express 18(20) 20900-20911 (2010)

On-axis diffraction of an ultrashort light pulse by circularly symmetric hard apertures

Omel Mendoza-Yero, Gladys Mínguez-Vega, Jesús Lancis, Mercedes Fernández-Alonso, and Vicent Climent
Opt. Express 15(8) 4546-4556 (2007)

Near-field anomalous spectral behavior in diffraction of a Gaussian pulsed beam from an annular aperture

Yuanjie Yang, Qihui Zou, and Yude Li
Appl. Opt. 46(21) 4667-4673 (2007)

Temporal effects in ultrashort pulsed beams focused by planar diffracting elements

Carlos J. Zapata-Rodríguez
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 23(9) 2335-2341 (2006)