Transmission of a two-dimensional Gaussian beam into a uniaxial crystal.

Abstract

We study the transmission of a two-dimensional (2-D) TM Gaussian beam through a plane interface between an isotropic medium (e.g., air) and a uniaxially anisotropic crystal. The optic axis of the crystal is taken to be in the plane of incidence but is arbitrarily oriented relative to the interface normal. We show that, in the paraxial approximation, a nontruncated transmitted 2-D TM Gaussian beam inside a uniaxial crystal can be expressed in a form similar to that of a scalar Gaussian beam that propagates in a homogeneous medium. We also show that the transmitted beam corresponding to an incident 2-D TM Gaussian beam with its main propagation direction along the interface normal is tilted inside the crystal by the same angle as is the transmitted axial ray that corresponds to a normally incident ray.