Propagation of a four-petal Gaussian vortex beam through a paraxial ABCD optical system

Based on the Collins diffraction integral formula, an analytical expression of a general four-petal Gaussian vortex beam passing through a paraxial ABCD optical system is derived by means of the mathematical technique. As a numerical example, the normalized intensity distribution of a four-petal Gaussian vortex beam propagating in free space is graphically demonstrated. The influences of beam order and topological charge on the normalized intensity distribution are discussed in detail. This research is useful to the optical trapping, optical communications, and beam splitting techniques, etc.