The path integral analysis has been used to examine the propagation of a Ga
ussian beam in two cases. First in free space and second in a space with a
non-penetrable obstacle, placed parallel to the direction of propagation. F
ull analytical equations have been given in both cases and results have bee
n taken in the same spatial coordinates in order to facilitate comparisons
No numerical instabilities have been observed and the method seems to be qu
ite tractable and easily extended in spaces with more that one obstacle.