Waistwyn: Gaussian Beam Rayleigh Range
Optics, Waves & Sound arc, page 119 of 193. Back to The Pixelated Physics Universe
Who they are
Waistwyn has one line, and says it often: “Focused for one rayleigh range.”
Waistwyn is a character of the Optics, Waves & Sound arc: drawn in pixels, ruled by one piece of real physics, and never allowed to break it.
The physics
A Gaussian beam stays near-focused only within the Rayleigh range zR = πw₀²/λ; at z = zR its radius has grown by √2.
$$ \begin{gathered} z_R = \frac{\pi w_0^{2}}{\lambda} \\ w(z_R) = \sqrt{2}\, w_0 \end{gathered} $$
| Symbol | Meaning | SI unit |
|---|---|---|
| $z_R$ | Rayleigh range | m |
| $w_0$ | beam waist radius | m |
| $\lambda$ | wavelength | m |
| $w(z)$ | beam radius at distance z | m |
Sources
Crossovers
Waistwyn meets Distalis (Fraunhofer Diffraction). Waistwyn's Gaussian beam spreads beyond its Rayleigh range, entering Distalis's far field. Tighter waists diverge faster: a smaller aperture gives a wider diffraction pattern.
Waistwyn meets Beaconess (Laser Guide Star). Beaconess launches a laser beam to make an artificial guide star at about 90 km. Waistwyn's Gaussian-beam rules decide how big that beam spot is when it gets there.
Wear the lore
Concept keywords: Gaussian Beam Rayleigh Range, Waistwyn, Optics, Waves & Sound, physics lore, Pixelated Physics