The vectorial angular-spectrum representation and Rayleigh–Sommerfeld diffraction formulae

The equivalence of the vectorial angular-spectrum representation and Rayleigh–Sommerfeld (RS) diffraction formulae is studied. Based on the angular-spectrum representation and the Weyl representation of a spherical wave, the vectorial RS diffraction formulae of the first and second kinds are derived in a simple way. Numercial results of diffracted divergent spherical waves are given to illustrate the application of the two vectorial RS diffraction formulae.