Nobukatsu TAKAI and Yasuyuki KAGAYA

Department of Electronics and Information Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkai-Gakuen University, S26 W11, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 064 Japan

(Received March 27, 1995; Accepted May 5, 1995)

Talbot images constructed in the Fresnel diffraction region due to two-dimensional Gaussian beam arrays with amplitude fluctuation are statistically investigated using a mathematical model based on the propagation law of a Gaussian beam. The average intensity distribution of Talbot images is analyzed theoretically, and the corresponding simulation is conducted by computer. The relative fluctuation of the peak intensity to the mean with respect to Talbot images is found to be less than that of the source by approximately 1/4. Furthermore, the effect of the finite size of source arrays on the formation of Talbot images is revealed throughout the simulation as well as the effect of the amplitude fluctuation.

Key words : Talbot effect, Gaussian beam arrays, surface-emitting diode lasers, amplitude fluctuation, statistical optics