bds 10 this is not a limitation on the method the three dimensional diagram in fig3 illustrates in greater detail the formation of the two focal points separately in each principal meridian when the highly compressed beam 57 passes through the beam focusing lens not shown since the highly compressed beam 57 in one principal meridian hereinafter the u2018 y component u2019 has converging characteristics the y component exhibits the short distance focal point 60 in contrast since the other meridian hereinafter the u2018 x component u2019 has collimating beam characteristics the x component exhibits the long distance focal point 62 combination of the x and y components results in the astigmatic beam spot 58 fig4 shows the y component of the highly compressed beam 57 which passes through the beam focusing lens 30 and results in the focal point 60 after the focal point 60 the beam diverges and creates the astigmatic side of the beam spot 58 fig5 shows the x component of the highly compressed beam 57 which passes through the beam focusing lens 30 and results in the focal point 62 the collimated x component of the highly compressed beam 57 is sharply focused at the focal point 62 which creates the sharply focused side of the astigmatic beam spot 58 fig6 and 7 illustrate further.