Trapping Tiny Laser beams
Abstract
Using the power in a light beam itself to form a long, narrow needle of non-diffracting light in a bulk material is an old dream that has seemed far fetched for many years. In this paper we describe experiments demonstating the formation of such a self-trapped needle, the photorefractive spatial soliton. We know already that this soliton is robust and stable against material inhomogeneities, remaining at a constant diameter of about 10 micrometers along the length of a 2 cm long photorefractive crystal, completely eliminating normal beam spreading due to diffraction. The typical optical power of this needle is only about 1 microwatt; nevertheless, it can not only guide itself but can also guide an intense beam at a longer wavelength. For example, a green needle can guide an infrared 1 watt beam at a wavelength of 1.3 micrometers .
- Publication:
-
APS Southeastern Section Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2000
- Bibcode:
- 2000APS..SES.LB001S