Properties of Gaussian Beams

Property: If a beam has a Gaussian transverse profile at one location, it

will have a Gaussian transverse profile at all other locations, unless
optical elements introduce a distortion that is non-uniform across the
wavefront of the beam.

Characteristic of a Gaussian beam: (i) Beam waist, (ii) Wavefront

curvature
Transverse distribution of the intensity of a Gaussian beam →
= / …(1)
→ Maximum intensity,
→ Beam radius (or waist) inside of which 86.5% of the energy is
concentrated
Minimum beam waist occurs either at point of focus after having
passed through a lens, or in the region between the two mirrors of an
optical resonator.

For example, in a typical optical resonator ( = = ) occurs

halfway between the mirrors. The beam then expands and diverges
from that location.
Measuring the beam waist at z = 0, we obtain

⁄
= 1+ …(2)

= 1+ , …(3)

→ beam wavefront curvature of a Gaussian beam at a location z.

[
]
Eq. (2) can also be expressed as
⁄
= 1+ , …(4)
where
= . …(5)

→ Rayleigh range, also referred to as the depth of focus when focussing

a Gaussian beam.
The waist region extends about one Rayleigh range on either side of the
waist.
At = , the spot size w(z) increases by 2 compared with the value
at the waist, i.e., = 2 .
2 = b → Confocal parameter.
Gaussian beam wavefront at ≫ → essentially a spherical wavefront
emitted from a point source at the waist.
This region is called far field.

Divergence angle (far field half angle) of the beam

" #
!= = …(6)
For a symmetrical cavity formed by two mirrors, each with radius of
curvature and supported by a distance , the minimum beam waist →
⁄
= 2 − …(7)

Radius of curvature of the wavefront →

' '
%& = + …(8)
(
For a confocal resonator in which R = d, is given by
'
= …(9)

The minimum beam waist (spot size) at each mirror located at a distance
⁄2 from the minimum is
'
= . …(10)
A stable laser cavity is a cavity in which the mirrors have curvatures
identical to that predicted for the Gaussian beam at that location.
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