Improved standard beams with application to reverse radiation pressure

Abstract

Recently a so-called standard beam description of Gaussian beams was introduced [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 11, 2503 (1994)]. However, it was afterward observed [Appl. Opt.35, 2702 (1996)] that this description exhibits a finite radius of convergence, limiting its range of applicability. We introduce an improved standard beam description with an infinite radius of convergence. The utility of this improved description is illustrated by evaluation of radiation pressure forces under severe focusing conditions.