Optics in Curved Space

Schultheiß V, Batz S, Szameit A, Dreisow F, Nolte S, Tuennermann A, Longhi S, Peschel U (2010)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2010

Journal

Book Volume: 105

Article Number: 143901

Journal Issue: 14

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.143901

Abstract

We experimentally study the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic curvature of space on the evolution of light. We show that the topology of a surface matters for radii of curvature comparable with the wavelength, whereas for macroscopically curved surfaces only intrinsic curvature is relevant. On a surface with constant positive Gaussian curvature we observe periodic refocusing, self-imaging, and diffractionless propagation. In contrast, light spreads exponentially on surfaces with constant negative Gaussian curvature. For the first time we realized two beam interference in negatively curved space.

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How to cite

APA:

Schultheiß, V., Batz, S., Szameit, A., Dreisow, F., Nolte, S., Tuennermann, A.,... Peschel, U. (2010). Optics in Curved Space. Physical Review Letters, 105(14). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.143901

MLA:

Schultheiß, Vincent, et al. "Optics in Curved Space." Physical Review Letters 105.14 (2010).

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