Use of the fast Hankel transform for laser radar mode propagation, overlap integral calculation, and laser resonator analysis

The numerical use of the fast Hankel transform E-field propagator is described in this paper. For azimuthally symmetric E-field applications, this propagator is a useful tool for solving many common problems such as super-Gaussian and unstable resonator laser mode propagation within optical trains and then out to a target. Overlap integrals for coherent ladar may be easily computed. In addition, laser resonators with gain medium may be analyzed for mode structure and output power incorporating g_o(r), I_sat(r), and extinction(r) with radially varying reflectivity and phase optics.