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Space-time wave packets localized in all dimensions

Author

Listed:
  • Murat Yessenov

    (University of Central Florida)

  • Justin Free

    (Clemson University)

  • Zhaozhong Chen

    (University of Glasgow)

  • Eric G. Johnson

    (Clemson University)

  • Martin P. J. Lavery

    (University of Glasgow)

  • Miguel A. Alonso

    (CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, Aix Marseille Univ.
    The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester)

  • Ayman F. Abouraddy

    (University of Central Florida)

Abstract

Optical wave packets that are localized in space and time, but nevertheless overcome diffraction and travel rigidly in free space, are a long sought-after field structure with applications ranging from microscopy and remote sensing, to nonlinear and quantum optics. However, synthesizing such wave packets requires introducing non-differentiable angular dispersion with high spectral precision in two transverse dimensions, a capability that has eluded optics to date. Here, we describe an experimental strategy capable of sculpting the spatio-temporal spectrum of a generic pulsed beam by introducing arbitrary radial chirp via two-dimensional conformal coordinate transformations of the spectrally resolved field. This procedure yields propagation-invariant ‘space-time’ wave packets localized in all dimensions, with tunable group velocity in the range from 0.7c to 1.8c in free space, and endowed with prescribed orbital angular momentum. By providing unprecedented flexibility in sculpting the three-dimensional structure of pulsed optical fields, our experimental strategy promises to be a versatile platform for the emerging enterprise of space-time optics.

Suggested Citation

  • Murat Yessenov & Justin Free & Zhaozhong Chen & Eric G. Johnson & Martin P. J. Lavery & Miguel A. Alonso & Ayman F. Abouraddy, 2022. "Space-time wave packets localized in all dimensions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32240-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32240-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Murat Yessenov & Basanta Bhaduri & Peter J. Delfyett & Ayman F. Abouraddy, 2020. "Free-space optical delay line using space-time wave packets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xinzhou Su & Kaiheng Zou & Yingning Wang & Murat Yessenov & Huibin Zhou & Hao Song & Wing Ko & Ruoyu Zeng & Abdulrahman Alhaddad & Murale Ramakrishnan & Yuxiang Duan & Ayman F. Abouraddy & Moshe Tur &, 2025. "Space-time wave packets in multimode optical fibers with controlled dynamic motions and tunable group velocities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.

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