Gaussian propagation

Gaussian propagation refers to how a wave or signal spreads out in space following a Gaussian, or bell-shaped, pattern. Imagine a ripple from a pebble in water: the intensity is highest where the pebble hit and gradually diminishes outward in a smooth, symmetrical way. Mathematically, this distribution resembles a Gaussian curve, which means the wave's amplitude decreases smoothly from the center. This concept is important in fields like optics and acoustics because it helps predict how signals or light beams expand and lose strength over distance, allowing for better design of systems that rely on precise wave transmission.