Precise evaluation of the Helmholtz equation for optical propagation.

A precise computational integration of the Helmholtz equation was performed for laser propagation of an electromagnetic wave with no approximations or linearization. This computation integration was performed using 64-bit processors. This is illustrated for a uniform monochromatic beam from a circular aperture that has a uniform intensity. It predicts many Arago spots and near-field intensity fluctuations for a large ratio of aperture size to wavelength and converges to the usual Airy pattern in the far field.