Operator based propagation of Whittaker and Helmholtz Gauss beams

Abstract: We introduce a compact operator-based technique that solves the paraxial wave equation for a broad class of structured light fields. Using the spatial evolution operator to propagate two families of physically apodized inputs, Gaussian apodized Whittaker integrals and Gaussian apodized Helmholtz fields, we derive closed form expressions that retain the Gaussian width and therefore describe finite energy beams. The method unifies and extends the Helmholtz Gauss families and readily generalizes to nonseparable nondiffracting architectures. Experiments on superposed Bessel Gauss beams confirm the predicted transverse rotations, demonstrating that this operator approach is a fast, transparent, and practical alternative to standard diffraction ntegral treatments