Synthesis of diffractive axicons for partially coherent light based on asymptotic wave theory

A general, noniterative method for designing diffractive axicons is derived . This new technique clarifies the earlier phenomenological design principl e that was used for coherent light and extends it to the domain of partial coherence. The approach is based on the method of stationary phase in fluct uating diffracted wave fields, and it applies to arbitrary axially symmetri c radiation of the Schell-model type. It is shown that the general design e quation can be solved numerically, in a straightforward way, for any reason able illumination and image specifications. (C) 2001 Optical Society of Ame rica.