Beam waist

Beam waist refers to the narrowest point in a light beam’s profile, typically in laser beams. At this point, the beam has the smallest diameter and the highest intensity, making it ideal for applications like cutting or focusing energy. As the beam moves away from the waist, it begins to spread out or diverge. Understanding the beam waist is crucial in fields such as optics and telecommunications, as it affects how effectively light can be focused or transmitted over distances. Essentially, it’s a key concept for optimizing the performance of various light-based technologies.