Hollow conic beam generator using a cylindrical rod and its performances

Abstract

By numerical simulations, it has been shown that a conventional cylindrical rod can be used as a hollow conic beam generator by illuminating a parallel laser beam inclined to the axis of the rod. Half of the conic beam is formed by the reflection at the surface of the cylindrical rod, and the opposite side of the conic beam by its transmission. We discuss the parameters to determine the size of the conic beam and the effect of the dielectric multilayer coating on the intensity distribution of the conic beam. The line beams of the shapes such as circle, ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola can be generated by this hollow conic beam generator, depending on the position and orientation of the observing plane. (c) 2006 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.