Note on the use of localized beam models for light scattering theories in spherical coordinates

Localized beam models provide the most efficient and enlightening ways to evaluate beam shape coefficients of electromagnetic arbitrary shaped beams for use in light scattering theories. At the present time, they are valid in spherical and (circular and elliptical) cylindrical coordinates. A misuse of localized beam models in spherical coordinates recently appeared several times in the literature. We therefore present a warning to avoid the propagation of an incorrect use of localized beam models. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America