title: Observation of the Gouy phase anomaly in astigmatic beams.
abstract: The Gouy phase anomaly, well established for stigmatic beams, is validated here for astigmatic beams. We simulate the predicted Gouy phase anomaly near astigmatic foci using a beam propagation algorithm integrated within lens design software. We then compare computational results with experimental data acquired using a modified Mertz-Sagnac interferometer. Both in simulation and in experiment, results show that a π/2-phase change occurs as the beam passes through each of the astigmatic foci, experimentally validating results derived in a recent paper by Visser and Wolf [Opt. Commun. 283, 3371-3375 (2010)].
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA. rolland@optics.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Jannick P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rolland
authors.forename: Kevin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Kye-Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tamkin
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wolf