Paraxial Propagation Properties of Radially Polarized Odd‐Pearcey Gaussian Beams in Free Space

Abstract

AbstractA new type of radially polarized odd‐Pearcey Gaussian beam (RPOPGB) whose paraxial propagation in free space is studied analytically and numerically, is introduced. Intriguingly, the energy of RPOPGBs is found to auto‐focus several times with the Gaussian beam waist radius increasing to some certain extents. Furthermore, RPOPGBs exhibit a special transversal intensity distribution that has an optical trap in the center. During the propagation, at first the RPOPGBs' two main lobes auto‐focus toward the center with side lobes, and then the two main lobes separate after the end of auto‐focusing. The Poynting vectors prove that the energy variation of the lobes maintains excellent central symmetry throughout the propagation. In addition, the fractional vortices are observed from the angular momentum and phase. These findings will be of potential use to particle capture.