title: Auto-focusing and self-healing of Pearcey beams.
abstract: We present a new solution of the paraxial equation based on the Pearcey function, which is related to the Airy function and describes diffraction about a cusp caustic. The Pearcey beam displays properties similar not only to Airy beams but also Gaussian and Bessel beams. These properties include an inherent auto-focusing effect, as well as form-invariance on propagation and self-healing. We describe the theory of propagating Pearcey beams and present experimental verification of their auto-focusing and self-healing behaviour.
authors.affiliation: H H Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. james.ring@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ring
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: Areti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mourka
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazilu
authors.forename: Kishan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dholakia
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dennis
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation