The effect of the geometrical optical phase on the propagation of Hermite-Gaussian beams through transversal and parallel dielectric blocks

When an optical beam propagates through dielectric blocks, its optical phase is responsible for the path of the beam. In particular, the first order Taylor expansion of the geometrical part reproduces the path predicted by the Snell and reflection laws whereas the first order expansion of the Fresnel phase leads to the Goos-Hanchen shift. In this paper, we analyze the effects of the second order Taylor expansion of the geometrical phase on the shape of the optical beam and show how it affects the transversal symmetry of Hermite-Gaussian beams. From the analytical expression of the transmitted beam, it is possible to determine in which transversal and parallel dielectric blocks configuration the transversal symmetry breaking is maximized or when the symmetry is recovered. We also discuss the axial spreading delay665548556CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO CARLOS CHAGAS FILHO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO - FAPERJFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informaçãosem informaçãosem informaçã