Pre-engineered abruptly autofocusing beams

    Authors

    I. Chremmos; N. K. Efremidis;D. N. Christodoulides

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Opt. Lett.

    Keywords

    AIRY BEAMS; Optics

    Abstract

    We introduce a new family of (2 + 1)D light beams with pre-engineered abruptly autofocusing properties. These beams have a circularly symmetric input profile that develops outward of a dark disk and oscillates radially as a sublinear-chirp signal, creating a series of concentric intensity rings with gradually decreasing width. The light rays involved in this process form a caustic surface of revolution that bends toward the beam axis at an acceleration rate that is determined by the radial chirp itself. The collapse of the caustic on the axis leads to a large intensity buildup right before the intended focus. This ray-optics interpretation provides valuable insight into the dynamics of abruptly autofocusing waves. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America

    Journal Title

    Optics Letters

    Volume

    36

    Issue/Number

    10

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1890

    Last Page

    1892

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000290716000050

    ISSN

    0146-9592

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