Parabolic Vector Focus Wave Modes

Abstract

Weber-type parabolic beams have a transverse intensity profile, which is parabolically-shaped and can be flexibly controlled. On the other hand, this type of beams belongs to the family of the so-called nondiffracting beams and have properties, promising for applications where the shape of the beam is of an importance. Vector electromagnetic theory has to be introduced in order to fully describe optical beams inside a high numerical aperture system, where the angles of the spatial spectra are large. We introduce here parabolic vector focus wave modes (FWM), which are both resistant to diffraction and to material dispersion. We employ here a spectral approach and investigate durations of parabolic vector FWMs in the femtosecond region. Two cases of transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes are introduced and both standing and traveling types of waves are considered. We demonstrate how the angular dispersion affects the pulse shape and its properties. Parabolic vector FWMs are studied in a transparent dielectric media (sapphire), which is widely used as laser processed material.