Unitary transformation approach to the paraxial wave equation

Abstract: We present a framework for the paraxial wave equation based on propagation-dependent unitary transformations closely related to the Lewis-Ermakov invariant. This approach establishes a formal equivalence between free-space propagation and the dynamics in a quadratic gradient index (GRIN) medium. In this context, the dynamical invariant and the free-space Hamiltonian do not commute at the initial propagation stage due to Gaussian modulation, which imposes an effective quadratic confinement. Exact commutativity would only be possible for an infinitely wide, nonsquare-integrable optical field; therefore, any finite-energy beam propagates as if it were subject to a quadratic GRIN-like potential. The unitary transformation approach reveals how the Gaussian envelope of physical beams leads to effective harmonic confinement and connects the propagation dynamics to oscillator-like invariants. This method enables the derivation of stationary solutions in different coordinate systems by mapping to an effective quadratic-like medium and establishes a direct link to the zero-frequency Ermakov equation and the Lewis-Ermakov invariants.