Gaussian beam with one transverse coordinate ($E=q^{-1/2}{e}^{-A{z}^2/q}$)

For the free parabolic wave equation $E_x=i{E}_{zz}/(2k)$, input $E(0,z)=e^{-A{z}^2}$ with $\mathrm{Re}A>0$ propagates asThe branch is continuous from $q(0{)}^{-1/2}=1$. One-dimensional transverse Fresnel propagation or two Gaussian integrals prove the formula. With $A=D^{-2}+ik/(2F)$, the squared envelope is $|q{|}^{-1}\exp [-2z^2/(D^2|q{|}^2)]$. The amplitude power is $-1/2$ because there is only one transverse coordinate. A two-transverse-coordinate Gaussian beam instead has power $-1$ when both coordinates share the same $q$.