Focal shift and focal switch of flat-topped Mathieu–Gaussian beams passing through an apertured lens system

By introducing a hard aperture function into a finite sum of complex Gaussian functions, an approximate analytical expression predominating the distribution of axial intensity for the flat-topped Mathieu–Gauss (FTMG) beams passing through a system with the aperture and lens separated has been derived. The focal shift and the focal switch effect of FTMG beams passing through the system is studied in detail. Numerical calculations have shown that the position of real focal plane is not coincident with the geometrical focus but is somewhat shifted toward the lens. The focal shift and focal switch of FTMG beams take place when the relative separation s/f = 1 by a suitable choice of beam parameter and truncation parameter, for example, the beam parameter is smaller than its corresponding critical value or the truncation parameter is between its two corresponding critical values.