Open AccessSelf-steering partially coherent beams
Author(s) -
Yuntian Chen,
Sergey A. Ponomarenko,
Yangjian Cai
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/srep39957
Subject(s) - trajectory , physics , gaussian , free space , optics , angular momentum , beam steering , beam (structure) , invariant (physics) , computer science , line (geometry) , tracing , classical mechanics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , operating system
We introduce a class of shape-invariant partially coherent beams with a moving guiding center which we term self-steering partially coherent beams. The guiding center of each such beam evolves along a straight line trajectory which can be engineered to make any angle with the x -axis. We show that the straight line trajectory of the guiding center is the only option in free space due to the linear momentum conservation. We experimentally generate a particular subclass of new beams, self-steering Gaussian Schell beams and argue that they can find applications for mobile target tracing and trapped micro- and/or nanoparticle transport.