Generalized Gaussian beams

Abstract

A unity of Hermite–Gaussian (HG) and Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) beam families is proposed by introducing an additional parameter. Continuous changing of the introduced parameter allows one to transform HG beams into LG beams in a continuous way, keeping some important properties of both families, for example, structural stability under propagation. The generalized beams (called Hermite–Laguerre–Gaussian beams) are investigated by theoretical and experimental means.