On the basis of Rayleigh-Sommerfeld vectorial diffraction formulas, we show that the radiation from a pulsed Gaussian planar source propagates at a slightly superluminal group velocity beyond the Rayleigh distance, in agreement with a recent prediction from the approximate paraxial theory of diffraction. Moreover, superluminality can be sizably enhanced up to velocities 1.5% faster than c (speed of a plane wave in vacuum) by diminishing the diameter of the source down to one wavelength. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Porras, M.a., Borghi, R., Santarsiero, M. (2002). Superluminality in Gaussian beams. OPTICS COMMUNICATIONS, 203(3-6), 183-189 [10.1016/S0030-4018(02)01173-2].
Superluminality in Gaussian beams
BORGHI, Riccardo;Santarsiero M.
2002-01-01
Abstract
On the basis of Rayleigh-Sommerfeld vectorial diffraction formulas, we show that the radiation from a pulsed Gaussian planar source propagates at a slightly superluminal group velocity beyond the Rayleigh distance, in agreement with a recent prediction from the approximate paraxial theory of diffraction. Moreover, superluminality can be sizably enhanced up to velocities 1.5% faster than c (speed of a plane wave in vacuum) by diminishing the diameter of the source down to one wavelength. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
