The axial intensity of axicons illuminated by a coherent wave usually exhibits rapid oscillations from diffraction on the sharp edges of the aperture of the element. These oscillations can be suppressed when the diffractive version of the axicon is illuminated from a polychromatic source. This possibility is examined based on the example of the annular-aperture logarithmic axicon. The estimate for the wavelength interval of the illuminating source required for uniformization is obtained with the help of the stationary-phase method. Furthermore the shape of the radial intensity distribution can be maintained almost unchanged. These findings are confirmed by numerical evaluation of the Fresnel diffraction integral.

© 1996 Optical Society of America

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription