Shape- preserving Accelerating Beams in Curved Space

TYPESolid State Institute Seminar
Speaker:Mr. Anatoly Patsyk
Affiliation:Department of Physics and The Solid State Institute, Technion
Date:21.09.2016
Time:12:30 - 13:30
Location:Lidow Nathan Rosen (300)
Remark:M.Sc. Student of Distinguished Professor Moti Segev
Presentation:
Abstract:We present the first experimental observation of shape-preserving accelerating beams in curved space. More
specifically, we study, theoretically and experimentally, shape-preserving  accelerating beams propagating
on  spherical  surfaces.  We  find  close  form-solutions  to  the  wave  equation  that  manifests  non-geodesic
dynamics,  resulting  in  wavepackets  that  are  propagating  on  trajectories  different  from  a  shortest  path
between  two  points.  The  evolution  of  these  beams  is  manifesting  the  intriguing  interplay  between
interference effects and the curvature of space, self-reproducing in periodic fashion once in a hemisphere.
Finally, we study a new platform for experimenting with optics in curved space: optical beams propagating
within the shell of a soap bubble  (probably the thinnest natural liquid film possible).  Surprisingly, a laser
beam  launched into the shell of a soap bubble is  propagating without a diffraction, regardless of power,
thermal effects, and soap concentration. Can this have anything to do with the molecular rearrangement?