Intensity patterns of a focused electromagnetic spherical wave with aberration

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Plasma Physics
• High-Intensity Laser Physics

Background:

• Conventional focusing optics have limitations in achieving ultra-high laser intensities.
• Relativistic flying mirrors offer a novel approach to laser focusing.
• The 4π-spherical focusing scheme is crucial for high-intensity applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a theoretical formalism for laser field configuration focused by a 4π-spherical scheme.
• To analyze the impact of phase errors on the focused electromagnetic field.
• To provide mathematical expressions for femtosecond laser pulses and continuous waves.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical development of a focusing formalism.
• Application of the 4π-spherical focusing scheme.
• Mathematical derivation of focused field expressions using spherical Bessel functions and harmonics.

Main Results:

• A theoretical framework describing 4π-spherical focusing with phase errors was established.
• The focused field configuration was expressed as a linear combination of spherical Bessel functions and spherical harmonics.
• Three-dimensional intensity distributions near focus were visualized for fields with phase errors.

Conclusions:

• Relativistic flying mirrors can achieve laser intensities exceeding conventional methods.
• The developed theory accurately describes focused fields, including those with phase errors.
• The findings are applicable to high-power femtosecond laser systems and continuous wave scenarios.