Propagation of elliptical Gaussian beams modulated by an elliptical annular aperture.

An analytical propagation expression for a generalized astigmatic elliptical Gaussian beam (EGB) modulated by an elliptical annular aperture and passing through an axially nonsymmetrical optical system is obtained by the use of vector integration. The derived analytical results provide more convenience for studying the propagation and transformation of EGBs than the usual method of using the diffraction integral directly, and the efficiency of the numerical calculation is significantly improved. Some numerical simulations are illustrated for the propagation properties of EGBs passing through a free space with an elliptical annular aperture, an elliptical screen, or an elliptical aperture. Further extensions are also pointed out.