The Talbot effect, i.e., the self-imaging property of a periodic wave in near-field diffraction, is a remarkable interference phenomenon in paraxial systems with continuous translational invariance. In crystals, i.e., systems with discrete translational invariance, self-imaging has been regarded so far as a rare effect, restricted to special sets of initial field distributions. Here it is shown that in a class of gapless PT -symmetric complex crystals at the symmetry-breaking threshold Talbot revivals can arise for almost any initial periodic wave distribution which is commensurate with the lattice period. A possible experimental realization of commensurate Talbot self-imaging for light pulses in complex “temporal” crystals, realized in an optical dispersive fiber loop with amplitude and phase modulators, is briefly discussed.
Talbot self-imaging in PT-symmetric complex crystals
LONGHI, STEFANO
2014-01-01
Abstract
The Talbot effect, i.e., the self-imaging property of a periodic wave in near-field diffraction, is a remarkable interference phenomenon in paraxial systems with continuous translational invariance. In crystals, i.e., systems with discrete translational invariance, self-imaging has been regarded so far as a rare effect, restricted to special sets of initial field distributions. Here it is shown that in a class of gapless PT -symmetric complex crystals at the symmetry-breaking threshold Talbot revivals can arise for almost any initial periodic wave distribution which is commensurate with the lattice period. A possible experimental realization of commensurate Talbot self-imaging for light pulses in complex “temporal” crystals, realized in an optical dispersive fiber loop with amplitude and phase modulators, is briefly discussed.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
11311-903157 Longhi.pdf
accesso aperto
:
Post-Print (DRAFT o Author’s Accepted Manuscript-AAM)
Dimensione
784.86 kB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
784.86 kB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.