Stripe-like quasi-nondiffracting optical lattices

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to generate stripe-like quasi-nondiffracting optical lattices with customizable shapes for advanced optical trapping and manipulation, including potential for complex network structures.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach to create customizable, quasi-nondiffracting optical lattices using spatial spectrum engineering, enabling new applications in optical trapping and soliton control.

Findings

Lattices can be generated with controlled diffraction properties.

Lattices support optical trapping and manipulation.

Potential for constructing complex optical networks.

Abstract

We introduce stripe-like quasi-nondiffracting lattices that can be generated via spatial spectrum engineering. The complexity of the spatial shapes of such lattices and the distance of their almost diffractionless propagation depend on the width of their ring-like spatial spectrum. Stripe-like lattices are extended in one direction and are localized in the orthogonal one, thereby creating either straight or curved in any desired fashion optically-induced channels that may be used for optical trapping, optical manipulation, or optical lattices for quantum and nonlinear optics applications. As an illustrative example, here we show their potential for spatial soliton control. Complex networks consisting of several intersecting or joining stripe-like lattices suited to a particular application may also be constructed.