Airy Wave Packets Accelerating in Space-Time
Abstract
Although diffractive spreading is an unavoidable feature of all wave phenomena, certain waveforms can attain propagation-invariance. A lesser-explored strategy for achieving optical self similar propagation exploits the modification of the spatio-temporal field structure when observed in reference frames moving at relativistic speeds. For such an observer, it is predicted that the associated Lorentz boost can bring to a halt the axial dynamics of a wave packet of arbitrary profile. This phenomenon is particularly striking in the case of a self-accelerating beam such as an Airy beam whose peak normally undergoes a transverse displacement upon free-propagation. Here we synthesize an acceleration-free Airy wave packet that travels in a straight line by deforming its spatio-temporal spectrum to reproduce the impact of a Lorentz boost. The roles of the axial spatial coordinate and time are swapped, leading to time-diffraction manifested in self-acceleration observed in the propagating Airy wave-packet frame.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1144009
Entities
People
- Ayman F Abouraddy
- H. E. Kondakci
Organizations
- University of Central Florida