Glossary

Laser: acronym of : « light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation » ; device emitting spatially and temporally coherent light radiation based on the stimulated emission
Elliptical beam: a beam in which « equi-intensity » curves in a plane perpendicular to the propagation axis are elliptical
Intensity ( physical optics ): local parameter proportional to the average energy or power of a light wave per unit area
Relative intensity: normalized intensity as determined by the ratio between the intensity and its maximum value