Role of beam propagation in Goos-H\"{a}nchen and Imbert-Fedorov shifts

TL;DR

This paper investigates how beam propagation influences polarization-dependent shifts in reflected Gaussian beams, revealing significant effects on Goos-H"{a}nchen and Imbert-Fedorov shifts, especially when the beam is focused.

Contribution

It introduces a classical-optics formalism to account for beam propagation effects on polarization-dependent shifts in reflected beams.

Findings

Beam propagation significantly affects the shifts.

Focusing the beam amplifies the shifts.

The formalism accurately predicts the shifts.

Abstract

We derive the polarization-dependent displacements parallel and perpendicular to the plane of incidence, for a Gaussian light beam reflected from a planar interface, taking into account the propagation of the beam. Using a classical-optics formalism we show that beam propagation may greatly affect both Goos-H\"{a}nchen and Imbert-Fedorov shifts when the incident beam is focussed.