Search

Abstract: The focal switch of Hermite–Gaussian beams diffracted at an aperture and subsequently focused by a spherically aberrated lens is studied. Our main attention is focused on the effect of quartic-phase aberrations on the behavior of the focal switch. It is shown that quartic-phase aberrations affect the relative focal shift , turning position , and relative transition height . Apart from a critical maximum truncation parameter , there is a critical minimum truncation parameter . Within the region the focal switch can take place, but quartic-phase aberrations give rise to a decrease of in comparison with the aberration-free case. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]