Self-focusing of super-Gaussian laser beams propagating in an array of carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Propagation of a monochromatic laser beam in an array of carbon semiconductor nanotubes is considered. Initial distribution of the field intensity in the beam incident on the system is chosen in the form of a super-Gaussian profile in the plane perpendicular to the wave vector. The electromagnetic field of laser radiation in the nanotube array is described semiclassically by the Maxwell equations. In the approximation of slowly varying amplitudes and phases, the effective equation is derived and solved numerically that allows the intensity distribution of the beam field in the system to be determined. The phenomenon of laser beam self-focusing onto a waist region with increased field intensity is revealed. Dependences of the characteristics of the waist region on the amplitude and frequency of the laser radiation field incident on the system are obtained.