Ultrabroadband Airy light bullets

P Piksarv,P Saari,A Valdmann,H Valtna-Lukner

doi:10.1088/1054-660x/24/8/085301

Abstract

We present the measurements of the spatiotemporal impulse responses of two optical systems for launching ultrashort Airy pulses, including ultrabroadband nonspreading Airy beams whose main lobe size remains invariantly small over propagation. First, a spatial light modulator and, second, a custom refractive element with continuous surface profile were used to impose the required cubic phase on the input field. A white-light spectral interferometry setup based on the SEA TADPOLE technique was applied for full spatio-temporal characterization of the impulse response with ultrahigh temporal resolution approaching a single cycle of the light wave. The results were compared to the theoretical model.

Highlights

The family of non-diffracting or localized waves [1] has grown recently thanks to discovery of several wave-fields whose intensity maximum is transversely confined, and moves along a curved trajectory during propagation in free space
We present the measurements of the spatiotemporal impulse responses of two optical systems for launching ultrashort Airy pulses, incl. ultrabroadband nonspreading Airy beams whose main lobe size remains invariantly small over propagation
White-light spectral interferometry setup based on the SEA TADPOLE technique was applied for full spatio-temporal characterization of the impulse response with ultrahigh temporal resolution approaching a single cycle of the light wave

Summary

Introduction

The family of non-diffracting or localized waves [1] has grown recently thanks to discovery of several wave-fields whose intensity maximum is transversely confined, and moves along a curved trajectory during propagation in free space. Pulsed versions of the Airy beam have been discussed and experimentally realized [4,5,6,7]. Direct light-field modulation can be used to create Airy beams [8], a more common experimental setup involves imposing a cubic phase profile on the input Gaussian beam and performing an optical Fourier transform with a lens. The desired spatial phase modulation can be acquired, e.g., with spatial light modulators (SLM) [2], lithographically etched micro-optical phase plates [9], combinations of cylindrical lenses [10] and even by a purposeful use of lens aberrations [6]. Airy beams have been put to use for generation of curved plasma channels [11] and optical micromachining [12]

Methods

Results

Conclusion