The phase space analyzer with Gaussian slits

Abstract

The phase space analyzer is an optical device that uses slits, lenses and an irradiance-calibrated image detector in order to characterize optical beams. With such a device it is possible to obtain the beam power distribution along the two-dimensional phase space coordinates corresponding to a given transverse direction. The usual setup includes hard edge slits, and it has been considered in previous studies to measure stigmatic and simple astigmatic beams. We analyze a phase space analyzer with Gaussian slits to measure Gauss Schell-model beams. Special attention is given to general astigmatic beams (such as twisted irradiance and/or twisted phase beams), where a characterization along two orthogonal transverse axes is not enough.