dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaDiffraction-free subwavelength-beam optics
| Authors | S. V. Kukhlevsky, M. Mechler |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0309078 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0309078 |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.optcom.2003.12.010 |
Abstract
Diffraction is a fundamental property of light propagation. Owing to this phenomenon,light diffracts out in all directions when it passes through a subwavelength slit.This imposes a fundamental limit on the transverse size of a light beam at a given distance from the aperture. We show that a subwavelength-sized beam propagating without diffractive broadening can be produced in free space by the constructive interference of multiple beams of a Fresnel source of the respective high-refraction-index waveguide. Moreover, it is shown that such a source can be constructed not only for continuous waves, but also for ultra-short (near single-cycle) pulses. The results theoretically demonstrate the feasibility of completely diffraction-free subwavelength-beam optics, for both continuous waves and ultra-short pulses. The approach extends operation of the near-field subwavelength-beam optics, such as near-field scanning optical microscopy and spectroscopy,to the "not-too-distant" field regime (0.5 to about 10 wavelengths).
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"abstract": "Diffraction is a fundamental property of light propagation. Owing to this\nphenomenon,light diffracts out in all directions when it passes through a\nsubwavelength slit.This imposes a fundamental limit on the transverse size of a\nlight beam at a given distance from the aperture. We show that a\nsubwavelength-sized beam propagating without diffractive broadening can be\nproduced in free space by the constructive interference of multiple beams of a\nFresnel source of the respective high-refraction-index waveguide. Moreover, it\nis shown that such a source can be constructed not only for continuous waves,\nbut also for ultra-short (near single-cycle) pulses. The results theoretically\ndemonstrate the feasibility of completely diffraction-free subwavelength-beam\noptics, for both continuous waves and ultra-short pulses. The approach extends\noperation of the near-field subwavelength-beam optics, such as near-field\nscanning optical microscopy and spectroscopy,to the \"not-too-distant\" field\nregime (0.5 to about 10 wavelengths).",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0309078",
"authors": [
"S. V. Kukhlevsky",
"M. Mechler"
],
"categories": [
"physics.optics"
],
"doi": "10.1016/j.optcom.2003.12.010",
"title": "Diffraction-free subwavelength-beam optics",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0309078"
},
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