On beam models and their paraxial approximation
arXiv:1705.08554 · doi:10.1088/1555-6611/aa94dc
Abstract
We derive focused laser pulse solutions to the electromagnetic wave equation in vacuum. After reproducing beam and pulse expressions for the well-known paraxial Gaussian and axicon cases, we apply the method to analyse a laser beam with Lorentzian transverse momentum distribution. Whilst a paraxial approach has some success close to the focal axis and within a Rayleigh range of the focal spot, we find that it incorrectly predicts the transverse fall-off typical of a Lorentzian. Our vector-potential approach is particularly relevant to calculation of quantum electrodynamical processes in weak laser pulse backgrounds.
8 pages, 9 figures
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- From polarized gravitational waves to analytically solvable electromagnetic beams
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- Coherent enhancement of QED cross-sections in electromagnetic backgrounds
- Numerical optimization of quantum vacuum signals
- The Vacuum Emission Picture Beyond Paraxial Approximation