Abstract

Optical beams of the Bessel-type can counteract diffraction and thus maintain their profile during propagation and for this reason they have attracted considerable attention [1]. In terms of applications, Bessel beams have been studied in connection to particle manipulation, filamentation, and microscopy among others [2]. Such beams follow straight trajectories even though waves with Bessel-like profile have also been shown to follow spiraling and snaking trajectories [3]. The purpose of this work is to show that it is possible to generate linear and nonlinear diffraction-resisting Bessel-like beams and higher-order vortex Bessel-like beams with arbitrary trajectories and a remarkably invariant main lobe. Furthermore, we experimentally verify the predicted phenomena.

© 2013 IEEE