Expressions for the fields of TM and TE laser beams in free space that are rigorous solutions to Maxwell’s equations are given in a closed form. The electric and the magnetic fields are both expressed in terms of nonparaxial elegant Laguerre–Gaussian beams that are exact solutions of the Helmholtz equation. These solutions involve well-known functions, such as spherical Bessel and associated Legendre functions. Radially and azimuthally polarized beams of arbitrary order are considered, and the lowest-order radially polarized beam ( ${\mathrm{TM}}_{01}$ beam) is investigated in detail.

© 2008 Optical Society of America

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