Control of nonlinear self-action of high-power Gaussian beams: using a nonlinear left-handed material slab

摘要

We present the theoretical and the numerical investigations of the control effect of a left-handed material (LHM) slab with third-order nonlinearity on the nonlinear propagation and the self-focusing of high-power Gaussian beams in a conventional self-focusing Kerr medium. Analytical solutions for the beam spatial properties and the self-focusing distance are derived. It is found that, in the conventional self-focusing Kerr medium, the beam diverging and the beam converging can be enhanced and suppressed, respectively, by the nonlinear LHM slab, and both the enhancing and the suppressing can be reversed by adjusting the distance between these two media. The self-focusing is also found to be enhanced or suppressed freely, and the variation of self-focusing distance takes on an interesting waving pattern. Moreover, computer simulations demonstrate the anomalous variation of self-focusing distance with the focusing property of the incident beam.