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Optical fields propagating through quadratic-phase systems (QPSs) can be modeled as magnified fractional Fourier transforms (FRTs) of the input field, provided we observe them on suitably defined spherical reference surfaces. Non-redundant representation of the fields with the minimum number of samples becomes possible by appropriate choice of sample points on these surfaces. Longitudinally, these surfaces should not be spaced equally with the distance of propagation, but with respect to the FRT order. The non-uniform sampling grid that emerges mirrors the fundamental structure of propagation through QPSs. By providing a means to effectively handle the sampling of chirp functions, it allows for accurate and efficient computation of optical fields propagating in QPSs. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fresnel integrals corresponding to different distances can be interpreted as scaled fractional Fourier transformations observed on spherical reference surfaces. Transverse samples can be taken on these surfaces with separation that increases with propagation distance. Here, we are concerned with the separation of the spherical reference surfaces along the longitudinal direction. We show that these surfaces should be equally spaced with respect to the fractional Fourier transform order, rather than being equally spaced with respect to the distance of propagation along the optical axis. The spacing should be of the order of the reciprocal of the space-bandwidth product of the signals. The space-dependent longitudinal and transverse spacings define a grid that reflects the structure of Fresnel diffraction.