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For a slowly varying envelope $E=\psi e^{-ikx}$, the paraxial approximation to the Helmholtz equation isBecause $n=1+\mu W$ and ${\mu }^2\ll 1$, passage through a sufficiently thin phase screen producesIts modulus is one at the screen exit. Beyond the screen, $n=1$, so the parabolic wave equation is $E_x=i{E}_{zz}/(2k)$. A Taylor expansion in propagation distance givesSincewe findIt follows thator, equivalently, $|E{|}^2=1-x{\varphi }^{\prime \prime }/k+O(x^2)$. Thus random phase curvature produces local focusing and defocusing: free-space diffraction converts phase fluctuations into amplitude fluctuations immediately after the screen.

Withthe parabolic wave equation is $E_x=(D+S)E$. Freeze $S$ at $x_0$, or preferably at the step midpoint. Over a short distance $\Delta x$, Lie-Trotter splitting givesThe reversed ordering has the same first-order accuracy, while symmetric half-steps in $S$ give the more accurate Strang form.

The commutator can be displayed explicitly. If $q=n^2-1$, thenThe splitting assumption requires $\Delta x^2[D,S]E$ to be small relative to $E$. It is favored by a short range step, a transversely smooth refractive index, and a field without unresolved large transverse wavenumbers. Freezing $S$ also requires $\Delta x{S}_x$ to be small. These conditions supplement the one-way and paraxial approximation already used in part i.

The phase-screen substep is pointwise:DefineThen solve the free-diffraction initial-value problemto $x_0+\Delta x$. In transverse Fourier transform variables, this substep is simplyThis is the split-step Fourier method.

DefineIf $A$ and $B$ commute, the Helmholtz equation operator factorizes asWhen $n$ varies with $x$, the exact product also contains the commutator $[A,B]$; neglecting it assumes longitudinal changes are slow. The forward-propagating factor isbecause it admits $e^{i{k}_{0}x}$ in a uniform medium.

Put $\psi =E{e}^{i{k}_{0}x}$. The one-way equation becomesForthe Taylor expansion $(1+Q{)}^{1/2}=1+Q/2+O(Q^2)$ givesThus the parabolic wave equation is

The expansion is accurate under the paraxial approximation: transverse wavenumbers satisfy $|k_z|/k_0\ll 1$, the envelope varies slowly on the carrier scale, the refractive-index contrast is weak enough for $Q^2$ to be negligible, and $n$ varies slowly in $x$ so $[A,B]$ is small. The one-way factor discards backward propagation and reflection; the square-root expansion additionally discards large-angle and higher-order diffraction, and it does not accurately represent strongly evanescent components or abrupt longitudinal interfaces.