title: Quantifying the paraxiality for laser beams from the M2 factor.
abstract: A useful relationship among the parameter called paraxial estimator [Opt. Lett. 32, 927 (2007)] and two parameters concerning the beam quality, the M2 factor, and the beam spot size was derived. This relationship allows one to quantify the paraxiality for a monochromatic laser beam from standard measurements extending the applicability of such an estimator for real beams even if the beam profile shape does not have a closed-form representation. Hence, the paraxial estimator might be a suitable tool for deepening the analysis on the quality of a laser beam.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Tecnologia, Servicio Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial SENAI-Cimatec, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. pablov@fisica.ufpb.br
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaveliuk