Self-imaging of electromagnetic fields

The electromagnetic theory of self-imaging fields is considered. Several fe atures are presented, which have no counterparts within the scalar theory o f self-imaging. For example, the electromagnetic field self-images at one h alf of the classical self-imaging distance for scalar fields, the electric and magnetic energy densities can self-image while the scalar field compone nts do not, and the self-imaging distances of the electric and magnetic ene rgy densities can be different. In addition, general expressions for TE and TM polarized fields are presented by using the concept of the angular spec trum of the field. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.