Beam deflection and scanning by two-mirror and two-axis systems of different architectures: a unified approach

An analytical model is developed to predict the structures of the scan fields generated by two-mirror-two-axis beam scanning systems of different architectures, including (1) two oscillating galvanometric scanners, (2) the paddle scanner two-mirror system, and (3) the golf club two-mirror system. It is found that the scan field generated by these systems can be divided into two regions, and scan patterns on the plane of observation depend strongly on the system configuration only in the near-field region. This finding leads to a unified approach to evaluate the structure of scan fields in the far-field region, which paves the way for an investigation of the optical distortions in the scan patterns generated by two-mirror-two-axis beam scanning systems of different architectures. 0 2008 Optical Society of America