Spontaneous generation of singularities in paraxial optical fields

Optics Letters
|May 19, 2016
PubMed

Related Concept Videos

Plane Electromagnetic Waves I01:30

Plane Electromagnetic Waves I

The existence of combined electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space as electromagnetic (EM) waves is the most significant prediction of Maxwell's equations. As Maxwell's equations hold in free space, the predicted electromagnetic waves do not require a medium for their propagation. An EM wave comprises an electric field, defined as the force per charge on a stationary charge, and a magnetic field, which is the force per charge on a moving charge.
The EM field is assumed to be a...
5.3K
Divergence and Curl of Electric Field01:25

Divergence and Curl of Electric Field

The divergence of a vector is a measure of how much the vector spreads out (diverges) from a point. For example, an electric field vector diverges from the positive charge and converges at the negative charge. The divergence of an electric field is derived using Gauss's law and is equal to the charge density divided by the permittivity of space. Mathematically, it is expressed as
7.5K
Second Uniqueness Theorem01:16

Second Uniqueness Theorem

Consider a region consisting of several individual conductors with a definite charge density in the region between these conductors. The second uniqueness theorem states that if the total charge on each conductor and the charge density in the in-between region are known, then the electric field can be uniquely determined.
In contrast, consider that the electric field is non-unique and apply Gauss's law in divergence form in the region between the conductors and the integral form to the surface...
2.7K
Equipotential Surfaces and Field Lines01:29

Equipotential Surfaces and Field Lines

Electric potential can be pictorially represented as a three-dimensional surface. On such a surface, the electric potential is constant everywhere. The equipotential surface is always perpendicular to the electric field lines, and while it is three-dimensional, it can be treated as an equipotential line in a two-dimensional case. These equipotential lines are also always perpendicular to electric field lines. The term equipotential is often used as a noun, referring to an equipotential line or...
5.3K
Divergence and Curl of Magnetic Field01:26

Divergence and Curl of Magnetic Field

The magnetic field due to a volume current distribution given by the Biot–Savart Law can be expressed as follows:
4.1K
Standing Electromagnetic Waves01:15

Standing Electromagnetic Waves

Electromagnetic waves can be reflected; the surface of a conductor or a dielectric can act as a reflector. As electric and magnetic fields obey the superposition principle, so do electromagnetic waves. The superposition of an incident wave and a reflected electromagnetic wave produces a standing wave analogous to the standing waves created on a stretched string.
Suppose a sheet of a perfect conductor is placed in the yz-plane, and a linearly polarized electromagnetic wave traveling in the...
2.5K