Propagation of a Laguerre–Gaussian beam through a slightly misaligned paraxial optical system

Abstract

Based on the generalized diffraction integral formula for treating the propagation of a laser beam through a slightly misaligned optical system in a cylindrical coordinate system, an analytical formula for a Laguerre–Gaussian beam passing through such an optical system is derived. Furthermore, an approximate analytical formula is derived for a Laguerre–Gaussian beam passing through an apertured slightly misaligned optical system by expanding the hard aperture function as a finite sum of complex Gaussian functions. Some analytical formulas are also given for a flattened Gaussian beam by expanding its field as a superposition of a finite series of Laguerre–Gaussian beams.