Three-dimensional nonparaxial accelerating beams from the transverse Whittaker integral

Abstract

We investigate three-dimensional nonparaxial linear accelerating beams arising from the transverse Whittaker integral. These beams accelerate along a semicircular trajectory, with almost invariant nondiffracting shapes. The transverse patterns of accelerating beams are determined by their angular spectra, which are constructed from the Mathieu functions, Weber functions, and Fresnel integrals. Our results not only enrich the understanding of multidimensional nonparaxial accelerating beams, but also display their real applicative potential —owing to the usefulness of Mathieu and Weber functions, and Fresnel integrals in describing a wealth of wave phenomena in nature.