FAR-FIELD SCATTERING OF AN AXISYMMETRICAL LASER-BEAM OF ARBITRARY PROFILE BY AN ON-AXIS SPHERICAL-PARTICLE

Experimental laser beam profiles often deviate somewhat from the ideal Gaussian shape of the TEM(00) laser mode. In order to take these devi ations into account when calculating light scattering, we propose a me thod for approximating the beam shape coefficients in the partial wave expansion of an experimental laser beam. We then compute scattering b y a single dielectric spherical particle placed on the beam's axis usi ng this method and compare our results to laboratory data. Our model c alculations fit the laboratory data well. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America