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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

The Generation of Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss Optical Beams for High-precision Interferometry
Published on: August 12, 2013
Discussion of two quadrature methods of evaluating beam-shape coefficients in generalized Lorenz-Mie theory
Abstract:
A comparison between two quadrature methods of evaluating beam-shape coefficients in generalized Lorenz-Mie theory, in the case of incident Gaussian beams, is carried out. It is shown that, when the electromagnetic description of the Gaussian beams does not perfectly satisfy Maxwell's equations, both quadrature methods are basically flawed. These flaws do not prevent an accurate evaluation of beam-shape coefficients when their nature is correctly identified, because they produce artifacts that can easily be identified and removed.
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