Determination of spatial-temporal distribution of laser radiation intensity

An analysis is made of the determination of the transverse distribution of intensity in a laser beam when this distribution departs strongly from the Gaussian form. It is shown that in some cases a one-dimensional distribution can be approximated by a Charlier-type curve. The results are given of experimental investigations of a laser with a spherical confocal resonator; it is shown that the experimental curves can be approximated to within 10% by a Charlier distribution.