The order of approximation in a theory of the scattering of a Gaussian beam by a Mie scatter center

Abstract

A formalism for computing the properties of the light scattered by a Mie scatter center illuminated by a Gaussian beam has previously been published. Nevertheless it was stated that the theory was not completely rigorous. In the present paper, the order of approximation involved in the theory is exhaustively discussed. It is concluded that significant differences between the authors' theory and a hypothetical rigorous theory and/or perfect experiments can only be expected for exotic situations.