Frozen Waves: Stationary optical wavefields with arbitrary longitudinal shape, by superposing equal-frequency Bessel beams

Abstract

In this paper it is shown how one can use Bessel beams to obtain a stationary localized wavefield with high transverse localization, and whose longitudinal intensity pattern can assume any desired shape within a chosen interval 0 < z < L of the propagation axis. This intensity envelope remains static, i.e., with velocity v=0; and because of this we call "Frozen Waves" such news solutions to the wave equations (and, in particular, to the Maxwell equations). These solutions can be used in many different and interesting applications, as optical tweezers, atom guides, optical or acoustic bistouries, various important medical purposes, etc.