Strongly focused right beams interacting with single atoms in free space -art. no. 023809

We construct three-dimensional solutions of Maxwell's equations that descri be Gaussian light beams focused by a strong lens. We investigate the intera ction of such beams with single atoms in free space and the interplay betwe en angular and quantum properties of the scattered radiation. We compare th e exact results with those obtained with paraxial light beams and from a st andard input-output formalism. We put our results in the context of quantum information processing with single atoms.