Optica Acta: International Journal of Optics

ISSN: 0030-3909 (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tmop19

A New Series Representation of the Fresnel

Diffraction Field of Axially Symmetrical Filters
M. Novotn
To cite this article: M. Novotn (1977) A New Series Representation of the Fresnel Diffraction
Field of Axially Symmetrical Filters, Optica Acta: International Journal of Optics, 24:5, 551-565,
DOI: 10.1080/713819599
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/713819599

Published online: 16 Nov 2010.

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Date: 12 November 2015, At: 07:20

OPTICA ACTA,

1977,

VOL .

24,

NO .

5, 551-565

A new series representation of the Fresnel diffraction field

of axially symmetrical filters
M. NOVOTN~'

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Institute of Instrument Technology, Czechoslovak Academy of

Sciences, Kralovopolska 147, 612 64 Brno 12, Czechoslovakia
(Received 19 March 1976)
Abstract. A new series representation of the diffraction field G(u, v) due to
the axially symmetrical filters is derived . The coefficients of the series are
formed by certain scalar products of the pupil function and the Bernoulli polynomials. Unlike the previous representations of the Fresnel diffraction field
containing the Lommel functions of two variables, this representation operates
only with special functions of one variable . Applying the theory to the focal
diffraction patterns G(4ITML, v), L integer, due to the filters with transmissivities
periodic with the squared distance from the axis, the previous result [3] directly
follows : the focal patterns of any filter approach the Airy pattern if the number
of the periods M increases . The series coefficients for the Fresnel diffraction
fields of the ideal lens and also of the polynomial filter transmissivities are derived .
The results are documented for the diffraction fields of the Fresnel and Gabor
zone plates .

1.

Introduction
It is known [1, 2] that the diffraction fields of the Soret zone plates in the focal
planes u=4irMl, 1=0, 1, 3, . . . take the form of the Airy pattern as soon as
the number of the transparent zones M is sufficiently large . This result has been
extended in [3] to all axially symmetrical filters simultaneously with the term of
focus : the diffraction field G(u, v) of a filter g(t) near its foci approaches that of an
ideal lens, providing the filter transmissivityg(t) is periodic in the variable t= p 2 la 2,
p being the distance from the axis and a the radius of the circular pupil . The role
of M is taken over by the number of periods .
In contrast to the general character of considerations in the previous paper [3]
inspired by the Arsenault-Boivin representation [4], we shall study the behaviour
of the focal diffraction patterns in more detail . The representation from [4] can be
transformed to the series expansion in which the number of periods M directly
control the rapidity of the series convergence (3) . This property of the new
series representation facilitates considerably the discussion and calculation of the
diffraction patterns due to the filter transmissivities with different number of
periods M-cf. 7 .
The series comprises newly established coefficients y k (u) and functionsf k (v) .
The coefficients y k (u) (so called diffraction coefficients) are determined by the
course of the pupil function within one period . They can be calculated either as
a sum of the Fourier coefficients of the pupil function g(t) or in the form of a
scalar product of g(t) and the Bernoulli polynomials (4) . The mathematical
flexibility of the Bernoulli polynomials permits one to obtain the analytical form of
the focal diffraction coefficients y k (4irML), L being an integer, associated with the
focal diffraction patterns due to a number of simple filter transmissivities (cf. 7) .

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552

M . Novotny

The diffraction coefficients associated with the general case of Fresnel diffraction
y k (u) are derived in 6 for the ideal lens, the Gabor zone plate or to the polynomial filter transmissivities .
The introduced functions / k (V) may be generated with the help of their
recurrence properties or may be established in a simple way using the Bessel
functions ( 5) . Their behaviour for small values of v somewhat resembles that
of the Bessel functions . However, they tend to zero more rapidly for v-->0 and
k-oo so that a rapid convergence of the series representation near the axis is
guaranteed .
In comparison with the former representations of the axially symmetrical
fields, two points should be emphasized . The theory presented is based on the
Fourier series expansion of the pupil function . It can then be applied in a proper
way, not only to the filters with continuous transmissivities but even to the filters
characterized by discontinuous pupil functions, such as the Fresnel plate . In
the presence of discontinuities most of the known methods fail because they use
the Taylor or Maclaurin expansions of the pupil functions ([l], p . 345) . Moreover, the periodicity of the Fourier series enables us to facilitate the calculations of
the diffraction patterns due to the periodic filter transmissivities while in applications of the former approaches the great number of periods of the pupil function
causes numerical difficulties . This was also the reason why a special theory of
the Fresnel plate was elaborated ([1], p . 407) .
Unlike the previous representations of the Fresnel diffraction fields containing
functions of two variables ([1], p . 354), our representation always operates with
the functions/ k (V) of one variable . The other variable u is involved just in the
diffraction coefficients y k (u) . Such separation of variables is not only convenient
for numerical calculations but it enables us to solve in principle inverse diffraction
problems in terms of the diffraction coefficients . Thus, the pupil function may
be established from the set of the diffraction ceofficients {y k (u)}, k=0, 1, . . .
associated with any Fresnel diffraction pattern u = const-cf . [8] .
After reviewing the necessary results from the scalar diffraction theory in the
next section we shall derive in 3 the new series representation.
2 . The representations of the diffraction integral
In the frame of the scalar theory of the optical diffraction, the diffraction field
G(u, v) of an axially symmetrical filter g(t) may be expressed in the form [1, 3]
i
G(u, v) = 22 f g(t)exp 2(1)
Zt
()J o (vth12)dt
0

with the symbols u, v, t, S2 introduced in [3], p . 219 . Further, we set iQ/2=1

for each studied plane u = const because it represents here an unsubstantial
proportionality factor .
We shall investigate the filters that display the periodic pupil functions g(t)
having the period 1/M, M natural . The case of non-periodic pupil functions is
also included by setting M= 1 when the period contains the whole pupil area .
Such periodic functions may be expanded in the orthogonal set {exp (i27rMmt)}
m=0, 1, 2, . . . having the same basic period 1/M-cf . [3] . Hence,
g(t) = Ig, exp (i27rMmt),
M

(2)

Axially symmetrical Fresnel diffraction

1/M

gm = M

553

g(t) exp (- i27rMmt) dt=

f
0

g(t) exp (- i2rrMmt) dt .

(3)

The last relation can be rewritten with the help of substitution t'= Mt as follows
1

gm =

g(t'/M)exp(-i2rmt')dt' .

(4)

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Therefore, the Fourier

pupil function within
periods M. According
field in the axial points

coefficients g n are fully determined by the form of the

one period interval and do not depend on the number of
to (1) and (3), they represent the values of the diffraction
[-4irMm, 0], i .e .
gm =G(-4rrMm, 0) .

(5)

These points, where gm :A 0, may be considered as the foci of the filter [3] .
total energy transmitted through the filter g(t),
1
I

Eg=

The

(6)

Ig(t)I2dt

is entirely distributed among them, in agreement with the completeness relation

(m=0, 1, 2, . . .)
Eg = ,I Igml2=~ IG(-4irMm, 0)1 2 .
m

(7 )

By means of the Fourier series (2) the diffraction integral (1) may be expressed
as the sum [3, 4]
G(u, v)=

g.0 (u., v),

(8)

where un

O(u, v) = f exp (iut/2)J 0 (vt1/2 ) dt .

(9)

The sum (8) may be then interpreted as the superposition of the diffraction fields
due to the ideal lenses exp (-i27rMnt) submitted to a certain uniform filtration
given by the Fourier coefficients gn . The foci of these lenses [4IrMn, 0] coincide
with those of the filter .
We shall need the Lommel representation of the diffraction field O(u, v) .
Considering the relation (9) to be the integral representation of the Lommel
functions of the first kind ([5], p . 309), we find

O(u, v)= uexp

(2)[U2 (u,

v)+iU

1 (u, v)] .

(10)

554

M . Novotny

Expressing the Lommel functions of the first kind in terms of those of the second
kind ([5], p . 310), we arrive at another relation :
2

-u exp

O(u,v)

V0 (u,v)+iV

1 (u,v)- exp

(2)1

(11)

( 12u v )] .

The Neumann expansion of the Lommel functions ([5], p . 309 or [6], p . 537)
2k
(_1)kw+jJ2(v),

Uj (u, v)-

(12)

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kG
m

(-1),(-V)

J 21+j(

1=0

v)

yield for special values of j, u, v some simple results, in particular, the Airy diffraction pattern in the focal plane O(0, v) = 2J1 (v)/v, and the axial distribution
O(u, 0) = exp (iu/4) sin (u/4)/(u/4) = exp (iu/4) sine (u/4) .
3.

The representation of the diffraction field in the focal planes

We shall adapt the expression (8) for the focal planes defined by u=4irML,
L = 0, 1, 2, . . . and g_1 =A 0 . The general case of the Fresnel diffraction will
be dealt with at the end of the next section . Let us rewrite the relation (8) in
the form (n = 0, 1, 2, . . .)
G(4irML,

v)=g-

L O(0, v)+

gn O(4TrML+n),v

(14)

no-L
The sum gives a deviation of the total diffraction field from the Airy pattern represented by the separated term g_L O(0, v) . It has been found in [3] that the diffraction field due to a periodic transmissivity approaches the Airy pattern if the
number of periods M increase . Thus for M->co the series in (14) brings no
contribution to the total diffraction field. It will then be reasonable to rearrange
this series with respect to the increasing powers of 11M.
First, let us replace the Lommel functions of the second kind in (11)
by their Neumann expansions (13) . Inserting the expression obtained instead of
O(47rML+n),v
the series at the right-hand side of (14) takes the form
_

n+L~i2,rMn

~L

ao

exp[87rM(L+n)]

k (v)} .

k=0 (-Z)k[47rM(L+n)] J

Further, the exponential function will be expanded into its Taylor series, i .e .
~~`
G
L

k 1 gn

[27r(n+L)]k1

k =O

( V )k +

v k
(C2)

kl1n

Jk (v)] .

Let us now introduce the notations (k=0, 1, 2, . . .)

YO(4rrML)

Yk+1(

47rML)=-ik+

= g-L ,
1

gn

n -L

[2ir(n+L)]k

(15)

Axially symmetrical Fresnel diffraction

555

and
/o(v) = A1 (v) = 2J 1 (v)/v,
k (v)1 .

d k+1(v)=(2)kC ~ (V)

2 k-J

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Exchanging the order of summing in the double sum (15) and involving the
term g_L O(0, v) in the series we finally get from the original relation (14)
Go

G(47TML, v)=

(-M) -k y k (4rrML)f k (v) .

(18)

k=0

We obtained the representation of the focal diffraction field in the form of the
series of terms arranged according to the increasing powers of 1IM. The period
of the pupil function 11M actually enters the expression just as (-M) - k ; the
coefficients y k (u) do not depend on M, in agreement with their definition (16)
and the relation (4) . Consequently, the diffraction fields belonging to the filters
mutually differing just by the number of periods M can be evaluated by means
of the representation (18) always with the same coefficients yk (u) . This fact
facilitates considerably the analysis of the focal diffraction patterns of such filters .
Since the coefficients Yk determine the form of the diffraction pattern (together
with the number of periods M), we shall call them the diffraction coefficients .
Before employing and discussing the revealed representation (18), we shall
briefly deal with the diffraction coefficients y k (u) and the functions / k (v) alone .

The diffraction coefficients yk(u)

We shall derive an integral representation of the diffraction coefficients y k (0) .
This representation can be readily extended to the case of the Fresnel diffraction

4.

0.

The definition (16) may be rewritten in the form of the completeness relation
([7], p . 52)
1

Yk(o)-

gn[-(-i2lrn)-k]n#0

gn qn(k) fg(t)Qk(t)dt=(g,Qk)I (19)

n

where the introduced functio ns Q k (t), k=1, 2, . . ., are defined by their complex
conjugate Fourier coefficients qn (k) . Hence, (m=0, 1, 2, . . .)
Qk(t) =

I
M

qm(k) exp (i2amt),

(20)

qm (k) = - (i2am) - k, m 0 0
(21)
qo(k)= 0 .

Note that the same definition of the scalar product (19) is appropriate for periodic
pupil functions, too, if we transform them in such a way as in (4) . The form of

556

M. Novotny

the first function Q o (t) follows directly from the relation (16) .
from (19) we have to set Qo (t)=1 and therefore
qo( 0 )=

; q,,,(0)=0,

To get yo(0 ) = go

m=1, 2, . . . .

(22)

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A recurrent process can be used to derive the other functions Q k (t), k=1, 2, . . . .
Integrating the relation (20) we get
I qm(k) [exp (i27rmt) -1 ] .
f Qk(t) dt= m#o
i27rm
0

Further integration yields

qm(k)

I dx f Qk(t)dt=
0
0
m#0 -i2irm

(23)

Inserting this expression into the previous one and regarding the recurrent property
of the Fourier coefficinets q,(k+1)
.=qm(k)/(i2irm)-cf. (21), we find
t

=f

Qk+l(t)

1
v
Q k (x) dx - f dy f Q k (x) dx.

(24)

Thus, each function Qk+l(t)

can be derived from the previous one, Q k (t) . We
have found this recurrence for k = 1, 2, . . . and we can so generate all functions
Q k (t) by means of (24) starting with Qo (t)=1 . The Fourier coefficients of the
functions Q k (t) formed in this way are those prescribed by (20), as we can check
additionally . The first functions Q k (t) are of the form (figure 1)
Q0(t)

=1 ,

Q1 (t) = t -1 /2,
(25)
Q 2 (t) = t 2 /2 - t/2+

1/12,

Q3 (t) = t3/6 - t2 /4+t12

Evidently, the function Q k (t) is a polynomial of the kth degree . These polynomials may be easily distinguished to be exactly the Bernoulli ones except for a
different way of normalization ([5], p . 20) .
The polynomials Q k (t) have a simple asymptotic behaviour as follows from
their Fourier series (20) . From (20) and (21) we get subsequently for k even
(k=2r, r=1, 2, . . .)
cc
(2-)2rQ2,#) _ (- 1)r+

12

m -2'' COS (2lrmt)

(26)

M=1

and odd (k=2r+1,r=0,1 2,

. . .)
cc

(2-) 2r+1

Q2r+1(t)_

( - 1)r+2

I
m=1

m-2r-1 sin (2irmt) .

(27)

557

Axially symmetrical Fresnel diffraction

(21r)r Q (t)

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W,

ME0

MME

WN

IAIL

V,r -,
M1 &
,I
N4
-~

FIAA

VA

WIN 7~~

PAIN.

MIAL

10

0.25

0.75

0.5

t --- 1

Figure 1 . The polynomials Qr(t) normed by the factor (2 a)r. With increasing r they
approach the harmonic functions (28) . They are connected with the Bernoulli
polynomials B (x) by the relation B (2t-1)=r! Q

These series expansions yield for r large enough

(27r)rQ (t) -~ - 2 cos 27r(t - r/4).

(28)

From figure 1 we can appreciate how fast the polynomials Q k (t) converge to their
asymptotic expansions. Practically, for k,> 4 the polynomials Q k (t) coincide with
the function (28) .
It remains to extend the derived integral formula (19) to the case of the Fresnel
diffraction, i .e . U00 . Since the diffraction coefficients are defined as complex
quantities, nothing prevents us in connecting the phase factor exp (iut/2) appearing
in the diffraction integral (1) with the pupil function g(t) . For M= 1, we thus
have
1

k (u) = f g(t) exp (iut/2)Q k(t) dt.

(29)

Care should be taken if the pupil function g(t) is periodic with the period 1/M,
M > 1 . Then transforming g(t) in the same way as in (4), we arrive at a comprehensive form (M= 1, 2 . . . . )
i

Yk(u)

lut

=fg
C

M)

exp (2M) Qk(t) dt .

(30)

Hence, in the general case, the Fresnel diffraction field has the series representation
M

G(u, v) =

I
k=0

(-

M) -k Yk(u)/k(v)

( 31 )

558

M. Novotny

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which enables us to calculate each Fresnel diffraction pattern u = const with the
fixed coefficients y k (u) .
According to (30), only the values of the pupil function g(t) from its first
period interval (0, 1/M> are needed for evaluation of y k (u) . Thus, no numerical
difficulties arise for M large . On the contrary, the convergence of the series (31)
rapidly improves with M increasing . For a number of cases of the pupil functions
the integration (30) is possible to perform using the following properties of the
Bernoulli polynomials .
(i) They fulfil the relation following from (24)

ddt(t ) =Qk_1(t)

; k=1, 2, . . . .

(32)

(ii) The polynomials Q k (t) always conserve the symmetry of their asymptotic
expansion (28) which may be seen from their generation formula (24) .
(iii) Practically, fork >, 4, we may use the asymptotic expansion (28) instead of
Q k (t) in (30) . This approximation leads to the asymptotic expression for the
focal diffraction coefficients

yk(4ML)

k
- -Z
(27r)k [g-L 1

(-1)kg-L-1],

k>,4,

following as well directly from (16) .

5.

The functions/ k(v)

The definition (17) prescribes for v = 0 the zero values of all functions/ k (v)
except for the first one /0 (v) . In this regard the functions f k (v) resemble the
Bessel functions J k (v) . There are, however, some important differences .
In agreement with (17) the functions A 2 (v), /3 (v), . . . are not limited for
v--oo in contrast to the Bessel functions-cf . figure 2 . Thus, we cannot
evaluate the diffraction field G(u, v) for v-* oo by means of the series representation
(18) because an infinite number of terms must then be summed . On the
contrary, in the vicinity of the optical axis the behaviour of the functions f k (V)
guarantees a rapid convergence of the series representation (18) . With v-*0
the functions/ k (v) tend to zero in an analogous way as the Bessel functions : they
tend to zero the sooner the larger becomes index k . However, the functions/ k (v)
converge to zero with v--->0 and k-*oo much faster than the Bessel functions
do . The first term of the oscillating power series
k) (V\ 2m k

Jk(v)=

1o(-l)-m! (m

(33)

determines the behaviour of the Bessel functions for v small ([6], p . 17), i .e .
k
J k (v)<-

k! (2)

k=0, 1, . . . .

(34)

Thus, from definition (17) it immediately follows, that the behaviour of / k (v)

559

Axially symmetrical Fresnel diffraction

1.5

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1
(v)
(2ir)r r

0.5

10
0

0
Figure 2 .

10

V ---

15

The functions /r (v) . They are nonmed by the factor (21r)_r which is reciprocal
to that used for the polynomials Qr (t) in figure 1 .

with v-->O has to be characterized by a higher power of v . In fact, with the help
of (17) and (33) we can obtain the power series for the functions / k (v)
(2)2(m k)
(35)

/k(v) = m o(-1)"t ( m

1) (m

k)1

The term with the lowest power of v/2 is again dominant for v small enough
1 v 2k
fk(v)<k( (2)

k=0, 1, . . . .

Hence, in contradistinction of (34), the functions / k (v) are characterized for

v-->O by the 2kth power of v/2 . Note that the power series obtained for
k=1, 2. . . . are also valid for k=0 when/0 (v)=2J1 (v)/v .
Some interesting properties of the functions
k (V) follow from the power
series (35). Multiplying (35) by v/2 and then integrating, we obtain (k=0,
1, .)

vf

/k 1(v) = J 2 /k(v) dv

(36)

or, eventually,

dfkd 1(v)

_ 2 fk(v)

Thus, the family of the functions /0 (v), / 1 (v), . . . is related by the recurrent
property (36) which gives the possibility of generating subsequently all functions
starting from the Airy pattern/0 (v)=2J1 (v)/v .

560

M. Novotny
Finally, we transfer the recurrent property of the Bessel functions (k = 2, 3 . . . . )
J k (v) = 2(k -1)Jk-l(u)lu

- Jk-2(v)

( 37 )

to our functions f k (V) . Solving (17) with regard to the Bessel functions Jk (v)
and substituting them into (37), we come to the recurrence formula for f k (V)
in the form

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k 1(v ) = k1 (v)2k

(k-1)/k(v)-`2)2d" k-1(v)

(38)

This relation was found for k = 2, 3, . . . but it holds even for k = 1 because of a
common power series (35) valid for all functions / k (v), k=0, 1, . . . . We can
then use the recurrence formula (38) for subsequent calculation of all the functions
/ k (V) from its two neighbours .

6.

The Fresnel diffraction field of the free opening

We shall apply the derived representation to the uniform transmissivity
o(t)=1 . The diffraction field O(u, v) given by the diffraction integral (9) is
expressed in terms of the diffraction coefficients cu k (u)
00
O(u, v)= I

(-1)kwk(u)/k(v),

( 39 )

k=0
1
w k (u)

= f exp (iut/2)Q k (t) dt.

(40)

In the planes u=4TrL, L integer, the diffraction coefficients cu k (u) represent evidently the Fourier coefficients (21) and (22) of the polynomials Q k (t) . Thus, we
have for the focal plane u = 0
cu o (0)=1 ;

cu k

(0)=0, k=1, 2, . . .

(41)

and for the other planes u = 47rL, L 0 0

w 0 (4TTL)=0 ;

cu k

(4aL)=-(i2rL) -k,

k=1, 2, . . . .

(42)

The properties of the Bernoulli polynomials discussed in 4 enable us to integrate

(40) even for a general position of the observatien plane . Assuming u ;~6 0 the
repeated integration by parts can be performed . Using (32) and the following
properties of the Bernoulli polynomials Q0 (t)=1, Q 1 (1)=1/2, Q1(0)=-1/2,
Q2k( 1 ) = Q2k(0 )# 0 Q2k 1(1)=Q2k 1(0)=0 for k=0, 1, . . . we may write the
result of integration in the form

CO

O (U) = exp

(4 /

sine

,
(4)

w k(u)

= ( u2) k wO(u)

[1k

U)

(4

(U)
4

Cot
(43)

Axially symmetrical Fresnel diffraction

561

where
ul
fk

C41

u l 11 .

2n5k

IO (

- 1)"Q2n(0)

Cl

(44)

The values Q 2 k(O) are easy to calculate in terms of the coefficients A n 2k of the
polynomials Q 2k (t) . If we denote
m
Qm(t) =

A n m tn ;

M=O, 1, . . . ,

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n=O

then Q2k (O)=An2 k. All coefficients A n- are determined by the recurrent property (24) of the polynomials Qm (t) . Consequently, we can get (m=0, 1, . . .)
Anm = A O--n /n!

(45)

and
m

Aom - n/(n

AOm 1= -

2) ! .

(46)

n=o

These relations enable us to derive all coefficients A n- if starting with the initial
one Aa = 1 . Hence, A 0 1 = - 1/2, A 0 2 =1/12, . . . .
The coefficients A 02 k are also expressible in terms of the Bernoulli numbers
B 2k defined to be ([5], p . 20)
B2k=

2(-1)k 1(2k)!
(27T) 2k

n -2k.

n=1

From (26) follows A 0 2 k=B 2k /(2k)! and therefore

Q2k(0 ) = B2kl (2k) ! .

( 47 )

This form leads to the discovery of a remarkable property of the expression (43) .
It holds that ([5], p . 23)
u
4

cot

u j
(4/

n=0

( - 1)nB2n ( U ) In
( 2}
( 2 n) !

(48)

We see that the series (44) represents a truncated expansion of the above function .
Thus, it holds that Wk(u)->O for k-* co and all values of u as the expression in the
square brackets turns into zero independently on u .
The series expansion (39) found for the diffraction field of the free opening
naturally gives the known distributions in the focal plane 0(0, v)=cu 0 (0)f0 (v)
=2J1 (v)/v and along the axis O(u, 0)=y0 (u)=exp (iu/4) sinc (u/4) . At the same
time, the diffraction field of the free poening O(u, v) is that of the ideal lens
([3], p . 221) . In this case the variable u stands for u - u , where u = ka2/f, f
being the focal length, k = 2.7r/A, and a the radius of the aperture . From this may
be found the connection among our variables u - u , v and the variables used in

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562

M. Novotn

the former Lommel representations of the diffraction field near focus of the lenscf . [9, 10] . Using the relations (3), (4) from [3] it is not difficult to see that it
holds for the plane of observation z =zo not too far from the focus u - u
- ka2zo/f2 .
Then, our first variable differs only in the sign from that used, e .g ., in [9] . The
definitions of the second variable v coincide and so the expression O(u - u , v)
given by the relation (9) is formally identical with that in [9] . However, a
difference appears in the representations of the total diffraction field in the form
of the different geometrical factors-cf. [3], p . 221 .
In comparison with the Lommel representations (10), (11) the deduced expression (39) contains only the function of one variable . Further, note that the convergence of the series (39) is very rapid near the axis because of the behaviour of
/ k (v) for small values of v and most rapid near the focus (u=0, v=0) when
moreover the coefficients co k (u) tend to zero for k > 0, u--0 . This may be seen
from the relation (43) that involves the truncated Taylor expansion of the function
(u/4) cot (u/4) in the vicinity of the point u=0-cf . (48) .
Finally, let us mention two generalizations of the relation (43) . With respect
to (40), the imaginary part of w k (u) clearly represents the diffraction coefficients
due to the Fraunhofer pattern of the sine-shape filter g(t) = sin(ut/2) . Similarly,
we find the real part of wk(u) to be the diffraction coefficients yk (0) corresponding
to the filterg(t)= cos(ut/2), u now being the parameter of the filter transmissivities .
Another generalization can be obtained by differentiation of (43) in the variable
u/2 . From (40) it is not difficult to see that the mth derivative of (43) has the
meaning of the diffraction coefficients due to the Fresnel pattern u = const of the
filter (it)m . Hence, the filter
g(t) =tm

has the diffraction coefficients

yk(u) -

Z -m
d(ul2)

These results enable us to express the diffraction coefficients associated with the
Fresnel diffraction field due to any polynomial filter transmissivity .
7.

The diffraction field in the focal planes

We shall discuss the focal diffraction pattern using the series representation
(18) . At first, let us examine the behaviour of the diffraction field for the increasing
number of periods M . As only the first term k = 0 representing the Airy pattern
contains M in the non-negative zero power, all other terms may be suppressed if
M is sufficiently large . Thus, we arrive at the results of paper [3] : the diffraction
field of any axially symmetrical filter approaches the Airy pattern in the focal
planes if the number of periods M increases .
Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate this for the examples of the Fresnel zone plates
with opaque and transparent central zone . The intensities in the Fraunhofer
plane L=0 are plotted in figure 3 . Figure 4 emphasizes the studied behaviour
illustrating the intensity ratios [CM/C .] 2 . The graphs in figure 5 represent the
intensity distributions in the conjugate focal planes L = 1 of the Fresnel plates .
From the figures it may be seen how fast all curves tend to the limit case given by
the Airy pattern if M increasing .

Axially symmetrical Fresnel diffraction

----

563

= 1/4

e = 3/4

0 .20

0 .15

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0 .10

0IN
II
0 .05

~2
M=1

2 `50

0
0

5 v -- .

Figure 3 . The intensities in the Franhofer plane u=0 calculated for the Fresnel plates
with transparent (the dashed curves) and obstacle central zone . They converge
with increasing number of the transparent zones M to the Airy pattern .

1
I

(C(0 .V) 2
lCm (0 .v)
M=1 ,

2%
E

= 1 /4

%
,

10 :
/ /
20,%
50/

___=---20

10
5
2
1

A _~l

0
0

3 v ----

Figure 4 . The ratios of the intensities from figure 3 to emphasize the convergence to the
Airy pattern C . for M increasing .

Now, let us examine the diffraction fields of the non-periodic pupil functions
in the vicinity of the axis . From figure 2 it can be seen that the values of
the functions/ k v for a fixed value v are practically zero starting from certain k .
Thus, only a few first terms of the series representation 18 can bring a substantial
contribution to the total diffraction amplitude . Especially, in the very near

M= 1

564

M. Novotny
0 .12
E = 1 /4

ICM 4,rM,v I 2

e = 3/4

1-

0 .10

0.08

0 .06

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0 .04

hL
k
,\` `

a
l

0 .02

\5` .
1 2 500.

0
0

5 v --

Figure 5 . The intensity distributions in the principal conjugate focal planes u = 4rrM
of the Fresnel plates with opaque and transparent central zone, the full and dashed
lines respectively . For increasing number of transparent zones M they approach
the Airy distribution .

vicinity of the axis, the term k = 0 corresponding to the Airy pattern prevails .
The further terms k=1, 2, . . . begin to apply subsequently in wider and wider
environments . It is important that we are usually able to estimate the width of
the central intensity maximum from the first three diffraction coefficients . This
fact leads to the practical applications presented in [11] where the two-point
resolution is studied . In [11] is developed a simple graphical method for determining the two-point resolution achieved in the Fraunhofer focal plane L = 0 by
the filters with the real pupil functions .
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author wishes to thank Mrs . Z . Kucerova for her help with numerical
calculations and with preparation of the manuscript . Thanks are due to to Dr . J .
Komrska for his encouragement during the preparation of the paper .
On etablit une nouvelle representation par une serie du champ diffracts G u, v du
aux filtres a symetrie axiale . Les coefficients de la serie sont formes par certains produits
scalaires de la fonction pupillaire et des polynomes de Bernoulli . Contrairement aux
precedentes representations du champ diffracts de Fresnel, qui contiennent des fonctions
de Lommel de deux variables, la presente representation opere uniquement avec des fonctions
spsciales d une seule variable . L application de la theorie aux figures de diffraction au foyer
G 4nrML, v L entier, dues a des filtres a transmissivites periodiques avec le carre de la
distance a l axe, on retrouve le resultat precedent [3] : les figures de diffraction au foyer
tendent vers la figure d Airy lorsque le nombre de periodes M augmente. On obtient
les coefficients de la serie pour la diffraction de Fresnel due a une lentille ideale, ainsi
que les transmissivites du filtre polynomial . Les resultats sont utiles pour les champs
diffractes par les lames zones de Fresnel et de Gabor .
Fur achsensymmetrische Filter wird eine neue Reihendarstellung fur das Beugungsfeld
G u, v abgeleitet . Die Reihenkoeffizienten werden durch bestimmte skalare Produkte
der Pupillenfunktion and der Bernoulli-Polynome gebildet . Im Gegensatz zu fruheren
Darstellungen des Fresnelschen Beugungsfeldes, die Lommel-Funktionen von zwei

Axially symmetrical Fresnel diffraction

565

Variablen enthielten, arbeitet these Darstellung nur mit speziellen Funktionen von einer
Variablen . Wendet man die Theorie an auf das fokale Beugungsbild G 47TML, v , L
ganze Zahl, von Filtern deren Transmission periodisch mit dem Quadrat des Abstandes von
der Achse ist, so folgen direkt die frtiheren Ergebnisse [3] : Fur jedes Filter n ahern sich mit
wachsender Periodenzahl M die fokalen Beugungsbilder dem Airyschen Beugungsbild .
Die Reihenkoeffizienten fur die Fresnelschen Beugungsbilder der idealen Linse sowie
fur die polynomische Pupillenfunktionen werden abgeleitet . Die Ergebnisse fur die Beugungsfelder von Fresnel- and Gabor-Zonenplatten werden dargestellt .

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REFERENCES

[1] BolviN, A ., 1964, Theorie et Calcul des Figures de Diffraction de Revolution Paris :
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[5] LUIS, Y. L ., 1962, Integrals of Bessel Functions New York : McGraw-Hill Book
Company, Inc. .
[6] WATSON, G. N ., 1958, A Treatise on the Theory of Bessel Functions Cambridge
University Press .
[7] COURANT, R., and HILBERT, D ., 1953, Methods of Mathematical Physics, Vol . 1 New
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[8] NovoTNY, M., 1977, Optica Acta, 24 577 .
[9] LINFOOT, E . H ., 1958, Recent Advances in Optics Oxford : Clarendon Press , p . 39 .
[10] BORN, M., and WOLF, E ., 1965, Principles of Optics Oxford : Pergamon Press , p . 437 .
[11] NovoTNf, M ., 1977, Optica Acta, 24, 567 .