Open AccessFocusing properties of Gaussian beams by a slab of Kerr-type left-handed metamaterial
Author(s) -
Yonghua Hu,
Shuangchun Wen,
Hui Zhuo,
Kun You,
Dianyuan Fan
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.004774
Subject(s) - optics , physics , paraxial approximation , metamaterial , rayleigh length , slab , gaussian beam , kerr effect , radius , self focusing , gaussian , beam (structure) , negative refraction , beam divergence , divergence (linguistics) , beam diameter , nonlinear system , laser beams , laser , quantum mechanics , linguistics , philosophy , computer security , geophysics , computer science
Kerr-type left-handed metamaterial (LHM) slab is proved to have an effect of focusing paraxial Gaussian beams and changing their waist radius, as conventional lens can do. The expressions for the focusing distance and the spot radius at the focal point are derived by the variational approach. We show that the incident Gaussian beams can be compressed or expanded by a single Kerr LHM slab, according to the sign of the Kerr nonlinearity and the divergence of the incident beam. Especially, it is demonstrated the focusing properties are significantly tuned by the slab thickness, the beam power and the divergence of the incident Gaussian beam.