ABSTRACT
This work describes the theory of laser beam shaping with aspheric optics by addressing the irradiance profiles commonly used in beam shaping applications, the effects of diffraction associated with the finite size of the aperture and of the beam propagation from the optics for flattened profiles using Kirchhoff's diffraction theory with the Fresnel approximation, and the geometrical theory of design of refractive aspheric shapers. A description is provided on how to evaluate the aspheric surface sag and the performance of a Galilean and a Keplerian configuration of a two plano-aspheric lens beam shaper and on how two-lens beam shapers perform when the input beam profile, wavefront shape, or wavelength deviate from their nominal values or when the lens surface contours or alignments deviate from their nominal values.
