Fifth-order corrected electromagnetic field components for a fundamental Gaussian beam

Abstract

Fifth‐order corrected expressions for the electromagnetic field components of a monochromatic fundamental Gaussian beam (i.e., a focused TEM₀₀ mode laser beam) propagating within a homogeneous dielectric media are derived and presented. Calculations of relative error indicate that the fifth‐order Gaussian beam description provides a significantly improved solution to Maxwell’s equations in comparison with commonly used paraxial (zeroth‐order) and first‐order Gaussian beam descriptions.