Vector theory of self-focusing of an optical beam in Kerr media
- 1 August 1995
- journal article
- Published by Optica Publishing Group in Optics Letters
- Vol. 20 (15) , 1598-1600
- https://doi.org/10.1364/ol.20.001598
Abstract
The scalar theory of the self-focusing of an optical beam is not valid for a very narrow beam, and a correct description of the beam behavior requires a vector analysis in this case. A vector nonparaxial theory is developed from the vector Maxwell equations by application of an order-of-magnitude analysis method. For the same input beam, the numerical results of self-focusing from both scalar and vector theories are compared. It is found by the vector theory that a linearly polarized circular input beam becomes elliptical in the self-focusing process.Keywords
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