Generation of nonparaxial accelerating fields through mirrors. II: three dimensions

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Wave Packet Propagation
• Beam Shaping

Background:

• Accelerating beams are optical wave packets that maintain their shape during propagation.
• Previous work focused on paraxial approximations for these beams.
• Understanding nonparaxial behavior is crucial for advanced optical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extend the ray-based treatment of accelerating beams to nonparaxial regimes in three dimensions.
• To investigate the trajectories of intensity maxima for these nonparaxial beams.
• To develop a practical method for generating beams with extended arc trajectories.

Main Methods:

• Extension of a previously established ray-based framework to nonparaxial conditions.
• Analysis of three-dimensional accelerating fields with circular and helical intensity paths.
• Design of specific mirror geometries for beam transformation.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of nonparaxial accelerating fields whose intensity maxima follow circular or helical paths.
• A straightforward procedure for designing mirrors to convert collimated beams into fields with extended arcs.
• The generated arcs can exceed 180 degrees, offering novel beam manipulation capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The ray-based approach effectively describes nonparaxial accelerating beams in 3D.
• The proposed mirror design offers a practical method for creating beams with large-angle trajectory control.
• This work advances the understanding and application of self-accelerating optical beams.