Virtual Journal of Laser

Publication year: 2010
Source: Optics & Laser Technology, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 6 February 2010
Guangming, Ji , Xiaoling, Ji
Analytical expressions for the effective radius of curvature, R, of Hermite–Gaussian (H–G) array beams propagating in free space for both coherent and incoherent combinations are derived. It is shown that for the two types of beam combination a minimum of the effective radius of curvature, Rmin, appears as the propagation distance z increases. For the coherent combination, R is larger than that for the incoherent combination. The position zmin where the effective radius of curvature reaches its minimum is further away from the source plane for the coherent combination than that for the incoherent combination. For the two types of...