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Fully Vectorial Accelerating Diffraction-Free Helmholtz Beams

Parinaz Aleahmad, Mohammad-Ali Miri, Matthew S. Mills, Ido Kaminer, Mordechai Segev, and Demetrios N. Christodoulides
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 203902 – Published 15 November 2012
Physics logo See Synopsis: Optical Boomerangs

Abstract

We show that new families of diffraction-free nonparaxial accelerating optical beams can be generated by considering the symmetries of the underlying vectorial Helmholtz equation. Both two-dimensional transverse electric and magnetic accelerating wave fronts are possible, capable of moving along elliptic trajectories. Experimental results corroborate these predictions when these waves are launched from either the major or minor axis of the ellipse. In addition, three-dimensional spherical nondiffracting field configurations are presented along with their evolution dynamics. Finally, fully vectorial self-similar accelerating optical wave solutions are obtained via oblate-prolate spheroidal wave functions. In all occasions, these effects are illustrated via pertinent examples.

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  • Received 2 October 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.203902

© 2012 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Optical Boomerangs

Published 15 November 2012

New kinds of self-accelerating optical beams emerge from the laboratory.

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Authors & Affiliations

Parinaz Aleahmad1, Mohammad-Ali Miri1, Matthew S. Mills1, Ido Kaminer2, Mordechai Segev2, and Demetrios N. Christodoulides1,*

  • 1CREOL/College of Optics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA
  • 2Physics Department and Solid State Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel

  • *Corresponding author. demetri@creol.ucf.edu

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Issue

Vol. 109, Iss. 20 — 16 November 2012

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