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A hydrodynamic model is proposed to explain physically the behaviour of Gaussian light-beam propagation in a medium whose refractive index varies slowly with position. The expanding mechanism of the beam cross-section, which cannot be explained by ray optics and wave optics, is well interpreted as diffusion due to ‘ optical thermal pressure ’, Justification of this model is also given.
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MASAHERO HASHIMOTO (1973) studied this question.
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