Focus evolution of Gaussian beam induced by phase plate

Abstract

In this article, vector diffraction theory is employed to investigate the focusing properties of the Gaussian beam through a phase plate. The phase plate may alter the wavefront phase of an incoming beam by topological charge. Both the circular phase distribution and the annular phase distribution plates are investigated. Numerical simulations show that the focal intensity distribution depends on topological charge. With changing topological charge, focal intensity distribution may evolve into ring shape, and some novel focal spots may occur. Focal intensity distribution evolving process with integer topological charge differs considerably from that with fraction topological charge. When the concentric annular phase plate is placed in the laser path, the focal intensity distribution depends on both the inner radius and topological charge. For small inner radius of the phase plate, doughnut-shape focal pattern occurs. With increasing inner radius, the diameter of the doughnut focal pattern decreases, and doughnut shape disappears slowly in some cases.