Matrix algorithm for 3D nonparaxial optical field modeling under arbitrary spatial coherence.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Computational Physics
• Micro- and Nano-optics

Background:

• Accurate modeling of optical field propagation is essential for micro- and nano-optics, especially at short distances and with varying spatial coherence.
• Existing Fourier and Fresnel transform methods are limited by their paraxial approximations, failing to capture nonparaxial effects accurately.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a nonparaxial matrix algorithm for simulating 3D optical field distributions.
• To provide a tool capable of accurate optical field modeling at sub-wavelength distances and under arbitrary spatial coherence conditions.

Main Methods:

• A novel nonparaxial matrix algorithm is introduced, based on a theoretical model representing optical fields and setup configurations using point emitters.
• The algorithm utilizes experimental data as input to simulate the optical field in the volume between input and output planes.

Main Results:

• The algorithm accurately predicts the power spectrum of interference and diffraction experiments.
• Simulations demonstrate capabilities in modeling specific experimental scenarios, including speckle phenomena.

Conclusions:

• The developed nonparaxial matrix algorithm offers a significant advancement for optical field modeling in micro- and nano-optics.
• This method provides accurate simulations for nonparaxial propagation, overcoming limitations of traditional paraxial approaches.