A comparative parametric characterization of elegant and standard Hermite-cosh-Gaussian beams

Based on the second-order irradiance moment definitions, the closed form expression M-G(2)-factor of hard-edge diffracted elegant Hermite-cosh-Gaussian beam is derived and illustrated numerically. Furthermore, a comparison, including characteristic parameters such as the PIB and M-G(2)-factor, of the elegant and standard Hermite-cosh-Gaussian beams is made. The results provide more general characteristic because all familiar rectangular laser modes, i.e., the cosh-Gaussian, Hermite-Gaussian, elegant-Hermite-Gaussian and Gaussian beams are obtained as special cases of standard or elegant Hermite-cosh-Gaussian beams. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.