Abstract
We demonstrate both theoretically and experimentally nonparaxial Mathieu and Weber accelerating beams, generalizing the concept of previously found accelerating beams. We show that such beams bend into large angles along circular, elliptical, or parabolic trajectories but still retain nondiffracting and self-healing capabilities. The circular nonparaxial accelerating beams can be considered as a special case of the Mathieu accelerating beams, while an Airy beam is only a special case of the Weber beams at the paraxial limit. Not only do generalized nonparaxial accelerating beams open up many possibilities of beam engineering for applications, but the fundamental concept developed here can be applied to other linear wave systems in nature, ranging from electromagnetic and elastic waves to matter waves.
- Received 29 August 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.193901
© 2012 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Optical Boomerangs
Published 15 November 2012
New kinds of self-accelerating optical beams emerge from the laboratory.
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