Description

The simulation uses the ABCD matrix method to propagate paraxial rays between two spherical mirrors. The distance between the mirrors and their radii of curvature affect propagation and cavity stability.

Controls

L defines the length of the cavity; y₀, the initial height of the beam, R₁ e R₂, the curvature radii of the mirrors. Start releases beam propagation, and Pause freezes the current trajectory. Restart restores the initial trajectory and retains the configured values.

Physical model

Cavity stability is determined by the criterion 0 ≤ g₁g₂ ≤ 1, where g₁ and g₂ depend on the distance between the mirrors and their radii of curvature—outside this range, the rays diverge with each reflection and the cavity is unstable.

Developers

Marco P. M. de Souza

References

Jonatas Schweigert, Cálculo da estabilidade de cavidades lasers de quatro espelhos na presença de ruídos aleatórios (TCC Física, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, 2020). Link for access.

Ray transfer matrix analysis, Wikipédia.

Optical cavities