Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

The Generation of Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss Optical Beams for High-precision Interferometry
Published on: August 12, 2013
Fields of a focused linearly polarized Gaussian beam: truncated series versus the complex-source-point spherical-wave
1Department of Physics, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. ysalamin@aus.edu
Abstract:
Fields of a linearly polarized fundamental Gaussian beam are derived exactly using the propagation characteristics of a complex-source-point spherical wave diverging from the origin. Intensity distributions are calculated and compared with their counterparts in a truncated series. It is found that utility of the exact fields is limited by a discontinuity inherent in the vector potential from which they have been obtained.
Related Concept Videos
Polar Coordinates: Problem Solving
Plane Electromagnetic Waves I
The EM field is assumed to be a...
Gauss's Law: Spherical Symmetry
Gauss's Law
Gauss's Law: Cylindrical Symmetry
Vector Representation of Complex Numbers
Consider a function defined as the product of the complex factors in the numerator divided by the product of the complex factors in the denominator.

