Erden, M. F.Özaktaş, Haldun M.2016-02-082016-02-081997-091084-7529http://hdl.handle.net/11693/25681We define the accumulated Gouy phase shift as the on-axis phase accumulated by a Gaussian beam in passing through an optical system, in excess of the phase accumulated by a plane wave. We give an expression for the accumulated Gouy phase shift in terms of the parameters of the system through which the beam propagates. This quantity complements the beam diameter and the wave-front radius of curvature to constitute three parameters that uniquely characterize the beam with respect to a reference point in the system. Measurement of these parameters allows one to uniquely recover the parameters characterizing the first-order system through which the beam propagates.EnglishFourier opticsGradient index opticsOptical systemsPhase shiftWavefrontsGaussian beamGouy phase shiftLight propagationArticle10.1364/JOSAA.14.0021901520-8532