arXiv · 0804.4669
Measuring the Complete Transverse Spatial Mode Spectrum of a Wave Field
Abstract
We put forward a method that allows the experimental determination of the entire spatial mode spectrum of any arbitrary monochromatic wave field in a plane normal to its propagation direction. For coherent optical fields, our spatial spectrum analyzer can be implemented with a small number of benchmark refractive elements embedded in a single Mach-Zehnder interferometer. We detail an efficient setup for measuring in the Hermite-Gaussian mode basis. Our scheme should also be feasible in the context of atom optics for analyzing the spatial profiles of macroscopic matter waves.
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Gabriel F. Calvo, Antonio Picón, Roberta Zambrini. 2008-04-29. Measuring the Complete Transverse Spatial Mode Spectrum of a Wave Field. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.100.173902
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