Beam propagation at an arbitrary angle in uniaxial crystals

Abstract

Studying beam propagation through different types of media is an active topic in scientific research due to its great importance for a variety of technological and industrial applications. In this current paper, we derive a general theoretical model for describing beam propagation though uniaxial crystals at an arbitrary angle with the crystal’s optical axis. In addition, we show that our model goes to the previously solved cases at the particular angles of propagation 0° and 90° with the optical axis. We then apply the derived model to the propagation of a quasi-Gaussian beam through rutile crystal at different angles with the crystal axis. In particular, we compare its propagation at different crystal’s thicknesses and at angles (0°, 45°, 70°) with the optical axis. The results show big changes in both the polarization and spatial structure of the light beam by propagating through the uniaxial crystal at different angles.