Simulation of Circular Aperture Diffraction Patterns

This MATLAB simulation models diffraction patterns generated when a plane wave passes through a circular aperture. The implementation utilizes Fourier optics principles and the angular spectrum method to calculate wave propagation. Key functions include defining aperture geometry using logical indexing, performing 2D Fourier transforms with fft2, and applying propagation phase filters. The diffraction distance parameter can be dynamically adjusted to observe near-field Fresnel diffraction transitioning to far-field Fraunhofer diffraction patterns. Through distance variation experiments, users can visualize how diffraction effects evolve from intricate interference patterns to classic Airy disk formations. This simulation provides valuable insights into wave optics principles, making it particularly useful for optics education and computational physics applications. The code structure allows easy modification of parameters like wavelength and aperture size for extended experimentation.