Propagation of a Gaussian beam in a gyrotropic medium

Abstract

Propagation of a slightly diverging Gaussian beam in a gyrotropic medium [constitutive equation (1.1)] across the gyration vector g is considered. The polarization, phase, and geometrical features of the beams are elucidated. For a sufficiently small gyrotropy, the medium deflects the beams like a wedge while for a sufficiently large gyrotropy the medium focuses them like a cylindrical lens. For the field polarized along g, focusing automatically and completely eliminates the diffraction broadening of the beam along this direction.