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Divergence of geometrical optics series at the boundary of its applicability: An analytical example in elementary functions (2D Gaussian beam in free space)

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Central European Journal of Physics

Abstract

An analytical example in elementary functions is presented (2D Gaussian beam diffraction in free space), which demonstrates the divergence of the geometrical optics (GO) series when the conditions for its applicability are violated. This example shows that accounting for higher terms in GO power series leads to divergence and therefore becomes completely useless beyond the boundaries of GO applicability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117 997, Moscow, Russia

    Yury A. Kravtsov

  2. Maritime University of Szczecin, Waly Chrobrego 1/2, 70500, Szczecin, Poland

    Yury A. Kravtsov

  3. Institute of Geological Sciences, Free University of Berlin, Malteserstr. 74-100, 12249, Berlin, Germany

    Stefan Buske

Authors
  1. Yury A. Kravtsov
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  2. Stefan Buske
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Kravtsov, Y.A., Buske, S. Divergence of geometrical optics series at the boundary of its applicability: An analytical example in elementary functions (2D Gaussian beam in free space). centr.eur.j.phys. 4, 1–7 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11534-005-0001-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11534-005-0001-y

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