Besselbeam

The mathematical function that describes the Gaussian beam is a solution to the paraxial form of the Helmholtz equation. The solution, in the form of a Gaussian function, represents the complex amplitude of the electric field, which propagates along with the corresponding magnetic field as an electromagnetic wave in the beam.

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The peak intensity at an axial distance z from the beam waist is calculated using L'Hôpital's rule as the limit of the enclosed power within a circle of radius r, divided by the area of the circle πr2:

Gaussianbeamq parameter

Since the gaussian beam model uses the paraxial approximation, it fails when wavefronts are tilted by more than about 30° from the direction of propagation[1]. From the above expression for divergence, this means the Gaussian beam model is valid only for beams with waists larger than about 2λ/π.

The geometry and behavior of a Gaussian beam are governed by a set of beam parameters, which are defined in the following sections.

The complex beam parameter plays a key role in the analysis of gaussian beam propagation, and especially in the analysis of optical resonator cavities using ray transfer matrices.

laguerre-gaussianbeam

For a Gaussian beam propagating in free space, the spot size w(z) will be at a minimum value w0 at one place along the beam axis, known as the beam waist. For a beam of wavelength λ at a distance z along the beam from the beam waist, the variation of the spot size is given by

The peak intensity is thus exactly twice the average intensity, obtained by dividing the total power by the area within the radius w(z).

laguerre-gaussian modes

Gaussianbeamcalculator

The parameter w(z) approaches a straight line for . The angle between this straight line and the central axis of the beam is called the divergence of the beam. It is given by

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where w(z) is the radius at which the field amplitude and intensity drop to 1/e and 1/e2, respectively. This parameter is called the beam radius or spot size of the beam. E0 and I0 are, respectively, the electric field amplitude and intensity at the center of the beam at its waist, that is E0 = | E(0,0) | and I0 = I(0,0). The constant is the characteristic impedance of the medium in which the beam is propagating. For free space, .

Laser beam quality is quantified by the beam parameter product (BPP). For a Gaussian beam, the BPP is the product of the beam's divergence and waist size w0. The BPP of a real beam is obtained by measuring the beam's minimum diameter and far-field divergence, and taking their product. The ratio of the BPP of the real beam to that of an ideal Gaussian beam at the same wavelength is known as M² ("M squared"). The M² for a Gaussian beam is one. All real laser beams have M² values greater than one, although very high quality beams can have values very close to one.

In optics, a Gaussian beam is a beam of electromagnetic radiation whose transverse electric field and intensity (irradiance) distributions are described by Gaussian functions. Many lasers emit beams with a Gaussian profile, in which case the laser is said to be operating on the fundamental transverse mode, or "TEM00 mode" of the laser's optical resonator. When refracted by a lens, a Gaussian beam is transformed into another Gaussian beam (characterized by a different set of parameters), which explains why it is a convenient, widespread model in laser optics.

Because of this property, a Gaussian laser beam that is focused to a small spot spreads out rapidly as it propagates away from that spot. To keep a laser beam very well collimated, it must have a large diameter.

For a Gaussian beam, the complex electric field amplitude, measured in volts per meter, at a distance r from its centre, and a distance z from its waist, is given by