An iterative optimization approach for designing the phase of the uniform-intensity axicon is presented that is based on the general theory of amplitude-phase retrieval in optical systems. We extend previous theoretical formulas to deal with the linear imaging system with multiple output planes. We carry out numerical simulation calculations for designing the axicon for cases of both uniform and Gaussian beam illuminations. The numerical results are in good agreement with the desired performance of the axicon, for instance, with considerable uniformity and smoothness of the on-axis intensity and energy flow as well as with high lateral resolution. The influence of phase quantization on the designed result is also investigated.

© 1996 Optical Society of America

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