Gaussian Light Beams with General Astigmatism

This paper considers the propagation and diffraction of coherent light beams through nonorthogonal optical systems such as sequences of astigmatic lenses oriented at oblique angles to each other. The fundamental (gaussian) mode has elliptical light spots in each beam cross section and ellipsoidal (or hyperboloidal) wavefronts near the axis. It is found that the orientation of the light spot differs from that of the wavefront, and changes continuously by as much as π radians as the beam propagates through free space. A theory of these general astigmatic beams is given and simple experimental observations are described. The coupling factor between two such beams is also given.