Effect of Diffraction on Wigner Distributions of Optical Fields and how to Use It in Optical Resonator Theory. III -- Ray Tracing in Resonators

TL;DR

This paper explores how diffraction influences Wigner distributions in optical fields and introduces a ray tracing method using elliptical and hyperbolic rotations to analyze optical resonators, including stable and unstable types.

Contribution

It presents a novel ray tracing approach based on Wigner distribution rotations to analyze optical resonators, extending understanding of diffraction effects in resonator behavior.

Findings

Classification of optical resonators derived

Ray tracing method demonstrated with examples

Insights into stable and unstable resonator propagation

Abstract

The third part of the paper is devoted to ray tracing in optical resonators. The employed method for dealing with the issue uses the elliptical or hyperbolic rotations that Wigner distributions associated with optical fields undergo during propagation from one spherical mirror of a resonator to the other. It is illustrated by various examples concerning meridional or skew rays, reentrant in stable resonators or propagating in unstable resonators. A classification of optical resonators is eventually deduced.