title: Fully vectorial accelerating diffraction-free Helmholtz beams.
abstract: We show that new families of diffraction-free nonparaxial accelerating optical beams can be generated by considering the symmetries of the underlying vectorial Helmholtz equation. Both two-dimensional transverse electric and magnetic accelerating wave fronts are possible, capable of moving along elliptic trajectories. Experimental results corroborate these predictions when these waves are launched from either the major or minor axis of the ellipse. In addition, three-dimensional spherical nondiffracting field configurations are presented along with their evolution dynamics. Finally, fully vectorial self-similar accelerating optical wave solutions are obtained via oblate-prolate spheroidal wave functions. In all occasions, these effects are illustrated via pertinent examples.
authors.affiliation: CREOL/College of Optics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA.
authors.forename: Parinaz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aleahmad
authors.forename: Mohammad-Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Miri
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Ido
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaminer
authors.forename: Mordechai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segev
authors.forename: Demetrios N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Christodoulides