Abstract

ORTEGA-MARTINEZ, Roberto; ROMAN-MORENO, Carlos J.  and  RIVERA, Ana Leonor. The Wigner function in paraxial optics I: Matrix methods in Fourier optics. Rev. mex. fis. [online]. 2002, vol.48, n.6, pp.565-574. ISSN 0035-001X.

The paraxial regime of scalar wave optics has the same structure as non-relativistic quantum mechanics, with wavelength taking the place of the Planck constant. The Wigner function is a central tool to explore the phase space of a system; in optics, moreover, it can be produced by purely optical means. In this first part, we present a matrix-based formalism for the study of paraxial optical systems, and apply it to the description of a setup that, as will be seen in the second part, produces the Wigner function.

Keywords : Wave propagation; Fourier optics; space phase measurements.

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