The concept of a virtual source, introduced by Deschamps, has some novel features. The usual electromagnetic field theory is not valid in the region where the virtual source is located. The field generated by the virtual source in the complex space reproduces the field of a paraxial scalar fundamental Gaussian beam to within an amplitude term in the real space. This novel virtual point source is now introduced.

Chapter Contents:

• 1 Scalar Gaussian beam
• 2 Field of a point source
• 3 Extensions
• 4 Exact solution
• References
• Gaussian beam as a bundle of complex rays

Inspec keywords: electromagnetic field theory

Other keywords: paraxial scalar fundamental Gaussian beam; real space; complex space; amplitude term; virtual point source; electromagnetic field theory; point current source

Subjects: Electric and magnetic fields; Steady-state electromagnetic fields; electromagnetic induction; Electromagnetic waves: theory