Low-cost Gaussian beam profiling with circular irises and apertures.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Beam Characterization

Background:

• The Gaussian TEM00 mode is crucial for optical systems.
• Accurate beam profiling is essential for optical communication and system analysis.
• Existing beam profiling methods can be complex or expensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a cost-effective beam profiling method.
• To utilize readily available circular apertures for Gaussian beam characterization.
• To provide an alternative to standard beam profiling techniques.

Main Methods:

• Derivation of analytical expressions for power transmittance through a decentered circular aperture.
• Beam profiling by varying aperture radius at a fixed position.
• Beam profiling by scanning a fixed-radius aperture across the beam.
• Experimental validation using circular irises and spatial filters.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a novel beam profiling technique using simple circular apertures.
• Achieved performance comparable to standard knife-edge beam profiling.
• Validated the derived analytical expressions through experimental agreement.
• The method is fast, reproducible, and cost-effective.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method offers a cheap and convenient way to estimate Gaussian beam profiles.
• Circular apertures are effective tools for beam characterization in optical laboratories.
• This technique provides a practical alternative for optical system analysis and free-space optical communication.