Abstract

We present a formulation of the scalar diffraction of spherical waves through plane apertures that takes advantage of the importance of the critical points and the semiperiodic zones that are defined in the plane of the aperture. Our approach overcomes the intrinsic limitations of stationary-phase methods (when the critical points coalesce) and allows a direct implementation in terms of numerical algorithms for computations of any predefined accuracy. The method is illustrated with examples corresponding to a rectangular aperture.

© 1999 Optical Society of America

Geometrical–numerical approach to diffraction phenomena

Salvador Bosch and Josep Ferré-Borrull
Opt. Lett. 26(4) 181-183 (2001)

Diffraction of Spherical Scalar Waves by an Infinite Half-Plane

Keith Leon McDonald and Franklin S. Harris
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 42(5) 321-330 (1952)

Vector-based plane-wave spectrum method for the propagation of cylindrical electromagnetic fields

Shouyuan Shi and Dennis W. Prather
Opt. Lett. 24(21) 1445-1447 (1999)

Optimal apodizations for finite apertures

P. S. Carney and G. Gbur
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 16(7) 1638-1640 (1999)

Diffraction-limited laser beam shaping by use of computer-generated holograms with dislocations

Evgeny G. Churin
Opt. Lett. 24(9) 620-621 (1999)