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Quasioptics concerns the propagation ofelectromagnetic radiation where thewavelength is comparable to the size of the optical components (e.g. lenses, mirrors, and apertures) and hencediffraction effects may become significant.[1] It commonly describes the propagation ofGaussian beams where thebeam width is comparable to the wavelength. This is in contrast togeometrical optics, where the wavelength is small compared to the relevant length scales. Quasioptics is so named because it represents an intermediate regime between conventionaloptics andelectronics, and is often relevant to the description of signals in thefar-infrared orterahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum. It represents a simplified version of the more rigorous treatment ofphysical optics. Quasi-optical systems may also operate at lower frequencies such asmillimeter wave,microwave, and even lower.[2][unreliable scientific source?]
