General quasi-non-spreading linear three-dimensional wave-packets

TL;DR

This paper presents a new method for generating three-dimensional quasi-non-spreading wavepackets, enabling complex shapes in space and time for applications like biophysics and nanosurgery.

Contribution

A general approach for creating diverse 3D quasi-non-spreading wavepackets with complex topologies in linear media is introduced.

Findings

Spectrum localized on a sphere for non-spreading wavepackets

Broadening spectrum allows complex wavepacket shapes

Potential applications in biophysics and nanosurgery

Abstract

We introduce a general approach for generation of sets of three-dimensional quasi-non-spreading wavepackets propagating in linear media, also referred to as linear light bullets. The spectrum of rigorously non-spreading wavepackets in media with anomalous group velocity dispersion is localized on the surface of a sphere, thus drastically restricting the possible wavepacket shapes. However, broadening slightly the spectrum affords the generation of a large variety of quasi-non-spreading distributions featuring complex topologies and shapes in space and time that are of interest in different areas, such as biophysics or nanosurgery. Here we discuss the method and show several illustrative examples of its potential.