Basic Detection Techniques

Quasi-Optical techniques

Andrey Baryshev

Lecture on 25 Sept 2006

Outline

• What is quasi – optics (diffraction)

• Gaussian beam and its properties
• What is far? (confocal distance), far field, radiation pattern
• Gaussian beam coupling
• Concept
• Lens/elliptical mirror
• Gaussian beam launching
• Corrugated horn
• Polarization elements
• Wire grid
• Roof top Mirror
• Quasi-optical components and systems

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A to B
A (source)

B (detector)

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A to B
A (source)

B (detector)

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A to B optical
A (source)

B (detector)

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A to B diffraction
A (source)

A (detector)

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Quasi - optics

Geometrical Quasi - optics D Radio D

Optics  D

• Both, Lens and

Antenna
• Simplification of
physical optics
Lens

Antenna

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What is “quasioptics” ?

“Quasi-optics deals with the propagation of a beam of

radiation that is reasonably well collimated but has
relatively small dimensions (measured in wavelenghts)
transverse to the axis of propagation.”

While this may sound very restrictive, it actually applies to

many practical situations, such a submillimeter and laser
optics.

Main difference to geometrical optics:

Geometrical optics: λ  0, no diffraction

Quasi-optics: finite λ, diffraction

Quasi-optics was developed in 1960’s as a result of interest in

laser resonators.

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Why quasi-optics is of interest

Task: Propagate submm beams / signals in a suitable way

Could use - Cables  high loss, narrow band

- Waveguides  high loss, cut-off freq
- Optics  lossless free-space,
broad band

But: “Pure” (geometrical) optical systems would require

components much larger than λ.

In sub- /mm range diffraction is important, and quasi-optics

handles this in a theorectical way.

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Gaussian beam - definition
Most often quasi-optics deals with “Gaussian” beams, i.e. beams which have a Gaussian intensity distribution transverse to the
propagation axis.

Gaussian beams are of great practical

importance:

• Represents fundamental mode TEM00

• Stays Gaussian passing optical
elements
• Laser beams
• Submm beams
• Radio telescope illumination
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Gaussian beam – properties I

A Gaussian beam begins as a perfect plane wave at waist but –

due to its finite diameter – increases in diameter (diffraction)
and changes into a wave with curved wave front.

Beam waist

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Gaussian beam properties II

Solution of Helmholtz equation

2
 2
 k  E ( x, y , z )  0 k

In cylindrical coordinates
 r2 j r 2 
  2  j k  z   j 0 ( z ) 
2 R( z)
E (r , z )  e  w (z) 
  w ( z)
2

 z 
0  ArcTan  2  Phase w0 Waist size
   w0 

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Gaussian beam – properties III

Gaussian beam diameter (= the distance between 1/e points) varies

along the propagation direction as
2
 z 
w( z )  w0 1   2 
  w0 
with λ = free space wavelength
z = distance from beam waist (“focus”)
w0 = beam waist radius

Radius of phase front curvature is given by

   w2  2 
R( z )  z 1   0  
  z  
 

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Gaussian beam propagation

Beam diameter
2w at distance z

Beam waist with

radius wo

Beam profile variation of the fundamental Gaussian beam

mode along the propagation direction z

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Gaussian beam - phase front curvature

Beam profile variation of the

fundamental Gaussian beam mode
along the propagation direction z

Curvature of phase front


0 
  w0

Far field divergence angle

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Confocal (Rayleigh) distance

 w 2
zc  0 Quasi-optics becomes geometrical
 Border between far and near field

zc
Far field
of ALMA
Antenna

377 km

Waist

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Launching Gaussian beam from fiber

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Corrugated horn coupling principle

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Quasi-optical components – Feedhorn (cont’d)

Often used in submm:

500 GHz horn
Corrugated feedhorn

• Lorentz’ reciprocity theorem implies that antennas work equally

well as transmitters or receivers, and specifically that an
antenna’s radiation and receiving patterns are identical.
• This allows determining the characteristics of a receiving
antenna by measuring its emission properties.

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Beam coupling, lens as example

1 1 1
  '
f R R

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QO Lens with antireflection “coating”

• Refractive index for antireflection coating nAR = n1/2, λ/4 thick

• Optical lenses: special material with correct nAR
• Submillimeter lenses: grooves of width dg « λ
• Effect of AR coating if height and width are chosen such that
the “mixed” refractive index between air and material = nAR

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Elliptical mirror

R1 R2

Rotation
FP1 FP2
axis

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Mirror chain

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Quasi-optical components - Mirrors

• Use of flat and curved mirrors

• Curved mirrors (elliptical, parabolic) for focusing

• Material: mostly machined metal (non-optical quality). Surface

roughness ~few micron sufficient for submm

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Quasi-optical components - Grid

• For separating a beam into orthogonal polarizations

• For beam combining (reflection/transmission) of orthogonal
polarizations
• Polarization parallel to wire is reflected, perpendicular to wire is
transmitted
• Material: thins wires over a metal frame
• Also used in more complicated setups

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Quasi-optical components – Quarter wave plate

Quarter-wave plate: linear pol.  circular polarisation

If linear pol. wave incident at 45o Path 1: ½ reflected by grid
Path 2: ½ transmitted by grid
and reflected by mirror

Path difference is ΔL = L1 + L2 = 2d cos θ

Phase delay Φ = k ΔL = (4πλ/d) cos θ

For linear  circular pol. we need

ΔL = λ/4  Φ = π/2 , i.e.

D = λ / (8 cos θ)

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Polarization transfer, roof top mirror

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Quasi – optical components

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Quasi optical systems example

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Martin-Puplett (Polarizing) Interferometer

• Low-loss combination of two beams of different frequency and

polarization into one beam of the same polarization
• Often used for LO and signal beam coupling
• Use of polarization rotation by roof top mirror:

• Input beam reflected by grid

• Polarization rotated by 90o

through rooftop mirror

•Beam transmitted by grid

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Martin-Puplett Diplexer

• Consider two orthogonally polarized input beams: Signal and LO

• Central grid P2 at 45o angle  both beams are split equally and
recombined
• For proper pathlength difference setting in the diplexer, both
beams leave at port 3 with the same polarization (and no loss)

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QO system characterization

Beam pattern (PSF) measurements

• E(x,y) phase and amplitude for y Test source

near field or receiver
• E2(x,y) for far field, in two planes Moves in x,y

System to measure

By fitting Gaussian beam distribution one can

locate waist position and waist size, relative to
measurement XY system

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Beam pattern examples, ALMA main beam

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Alma beam – cross polarization

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HIFI FPU (Focal Plane Unit)

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Common Optics Assembly

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Common Optics Assembly

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Mixer Assembly

Contains two Mixer

Subassemblies (MSA)

Accepts LO and signal

in two polarizations

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Literature on Quasi-optics (examples)

• “Quasioptical Systems”, P.F. Goldsmith, IEEE Press 1998

Excellent book for (sub-)mm optics

• “Beam and Fiber Optics”, J.A. Arnaud, Academic Press 1976

• “Light Transmission Optics”, D. Marcuse, Van Nostrand-

Reinhold, 1975

• “An Introduciton to Lasers and Masers”, A.E. Siegman, McGraw-

Hill 1971

• Chapter 5 (by P.F. Goldsmith) in Infrared and Millimeter Waves,

Vol. 6, ed. K.J. Button, Academic Press 1982

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