Physical applications of a simple approximation of Bessel functions of integer order

Abstract

Applications of a simple approximation of Bessel functions of integer order, in terms of trigonometric functions, are discussed for several examples from electromagnetism and optics. The method may be applied in the intermediate regime, bridging the ‘small values regime’ and the ‘asymptotic’ one, and covering, in this way, an area of great physical interest. The examples that illustrate our approach are accessible to the undergraduate student.