Longitudinal Distribution of the Maximum Intensity in Bessel Light Beams of Zero and Higher Orders**

The longitudinal distributions of the maximum intensity in Bessel light beams (BLBs) of various orders are compared with analogous distributions in Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian light beams of the corresponding orders. The concept of a “dangerous zone” of the BLB is introduced. A method for determining its length is proposed. The maximum intensity I of the initial Gaussian or Laguerre-Gaussian light beam is initially chosen not to exceed the optical damage threshold of the optical elements and objects used. The dangerous zone of the BLB is the region of space behind the axicon in which the maximum intensity in the BLB exceeds I. The length of the dangerous zone is taken to be the largest distance z behind the axicon for which the maximum intensity in the BLB cross section is equal to I . Additionally, the distance z from the axicon at which the intensity on the BLB axis and in its peripheral annular field are aligned is determined. The maximum intensity in this cross section in BLBs of the 0th, 1st, and 2nd orders are guaranteed to be less than I although the transverse size of the light beam is not yet too large. The relative (in units of the BLB existence length z) values of z and z for the zero and higher (from the 1st to the 9th) orders of the BLB are calculated with the help of mathematical modeling methods. It is advisable to place objects with low optical damage thresholds at distances greater than z when designing optical systems using the conical BLB geometry. The 1st order BLB in the region from z to z is the most energy efficient for the same given radius of the initial Laguerre-Gaussian beam in terms of the level I /e .