Motivated by the work of Berry and Balazs and Greenberger on the 1-D Schrödinger equation, we have investigated a class of nonspreading solutions to the 3-D Schrödinger equation involving accelerating Airy envelopes. These solutions are characterized by an asymmetric structure, in contrast to recently derived spherically symmetric packets moving with constant velocities. The field of a characteristic Airy packet extends in an oscillatory fashion behind its peak amplitude, while it quickly disappears in front of the packet’s center. A particle modeled by such a packet seems to leave a wake of its field behind as it accelerates in a certain direction. On the other hand, a wave packet moving with a constant velocity has a field which is symmetrically distributed in all directions. Our work on Airy-type solutions to the 3-D Schrödinger equation has led us also to analogous solutions for the 3-D scalar wave equation.Motivated by the work of Berry and Balazs and Greenberger on the 1-D Schrödinger equation, we have investigated a class of nonspreading solutions to the 3-D Schrödinger equation involving accelerating Airy envelopes. These solutions are characterized by an asymmetric structure, in contrast to recently derived spherically symmetric packets moving with constant velocities. The field of a characteristic Airy packet extends in an oscillatory fashion behind its peak amplitude, while it quickly disappears in front of the packet’s center. A particle modeled by such a packet seems to leave a wake of its field behind as it accelerates in a certain direction. On the other hand, a wave packet moving with a constant velocity has a field which is symmetrically distributed in all directions. Our work on Airy-type solutions to the 3-D Schrödinger equation has led us also to analogous solutions for the 3-D scalar wave equation.

American Journal of PhysicsJun 1, 199450 citations

The Schrödinger Equation, Waves and Wave Packets

IMPERIAL COLLEGE PRESS eBooksMar 1, 20101 citation

Research on diffraction and self-acceleration of Airy beam

Yue Yang-Yang, Xiao Han, Wang Zi-Xiao +1 more

In 1979, Berry and Balazs [M V Berry and N L Balazs 1979 Am. J. Phys. 47 264] obtained a strict solution of the Schrödinger equation with Airy function used as the initial condition, and described the wave function represented by such solution as the Airy wave-packets. They discovered that infinite Airy wave-packet has unique properties such as non-spreading and free acceleration, proving that it is the only nontrivial non-spreading solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in one dimension. However, the observing of the finite Airy beam seems to be more meaningful since wave-packets in reality is inevitably band limited. A certain form of finite Airy beam was investigated by Siviloglou et al. in 2007 [Siviloglou G A, Broky J, Dogariu A, Christodoulides D N 2007 Phys. Rev. Lett. 99 213901; Siviloglou G A, Christodoulides D N 2007 Opt. Lett. 32 979]. They noted that the Airy wave packet still exhibits its most exotic feature, i.e., its trend toward free acceleration. While in the present paper we discuss the properties of Airy beam in a few steps further and propose several conclusions. On the one hand, a theoretic explanation is given to solve the matter of the centre of mass of infinite Airy beam. On the other hand, deeper research is conducted on the unique properties of finite Airy beam. Another form of finite Airy beam is discussed by reduction to absurdity, and its field distribution is put forward by numerical simulation. We find that the trajectory of the centroid holds its position, which means that the beam cannot accelerate freely as a whole. Ultimately, we have the conclusion that finite Airy beam can neither freely accelerate nor be non-diffractive.In 1979, Berry and Balazs [M V Berry and N L Balazs 1979 Am. J. Phys. 47 264] obtained a strict solution of the Schrödinger equation with Airy function used as the initial condition, and described the wave function represented by such solution as the Airy wave-packets. They discovered that infinite Airy wave-packet has unique properties such as non-spreading and free acceleration, proving that it is the only nontrivial non-spreading solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in one dimension. However, the observing of the finite Airy beam seems to be more meaningful since wave-packets in reality is inevitably band limited. A certain form of finite Airy beam was investigated by Siviloglou et al. in 2007 [Siviloglou G A, Broky J, Dogariu A, Christodoulides D N 2007 Phys. Rev. Lett. 99 213901; Siviloglou G A, Christodoulides D N 2007 Opt. Lett. 32 979]. They noted that the Airy wave packet still exhibits its most exotic feature, i.e., its trend toward free acceleration. While in the present paper we discuss the properties of Airy beam in a few steps further and propose several conclusions. On the one hand, a theoretic explanation is given to solve the matter of the centre of mass of infinite Airy beam. On the other hand, deeper research is conducted on the unique properties of finite Airy beam. Another form of finite Airy beam is discussed by reduction to absurdity, and its field distribution is put forward by numerical simulation. We find that the trajectory of the centroid holds its position, which means that the beam cannot accelerate freely as a whole. Ultimately, we have the conclusion that finite Airy beam can neither freely accelerate nor be non-diffractive.

Acta Physica SinicaJan 1, 20137 citations

The Schrödinger Wave Equation

International geophysics/International geophysics seriesJan 1, 20020 citations

Time-dependent wave-packet forms of Schrödinger and Lippmann-Schwinger equations

Wei Kang Zhu, Youhong Huang, Donald Jack Kouri +2 more

Time-independent wave-packet forms of the Schr\"odinger equation (TIWSE) and Lippmann-Schwinger equation (TIWLSB) have been derived by a partial time-to-energy Fourier transform of ${\mathit{L}}^{2}$ wave-packet solutions to the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation. The new equations retain the initial wave packet \ensuremath{\chi}( ${\mathit{t}}_{0}$ ) as a ``universal source'' of scattered waves, which applies for all collision energies E contained in the initial wave packet. The relationship between the solution ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Psi}}}_{\mathit{t}0}$(E) of the TIWSE or TIWLSE and the scattering solution ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Psi}}}^{(+)}$(E) of the standard time-independent Lippmann-Schwinger or Schr\"odinger equation is given and the method illustrated by a computational application.Time-independent wave-packet forms of the Schr\"odinger equation (TIWSE) and Lippmann-Schwinger equation (TIWLSB) have been derived by a partial time-to-energy Fourier transform of ${\mathit{L}}^{2}$ wave-packet solutions to the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation. The new equations retain the initial wave packet \ensuremath{\chi}(${\mathit{t}}_{0}$) as a ``universal source'' of scattered waves, which applies for all collision energies E contained in the initial wave packet. The relationship between the solution ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Psi}}}_{\mathit{t}0}$(E) of the TIWSE or TIWLSE and the scattering solution ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Psi}}}^{(+)}$(E) of the standard time-independent Lippmann-Schwinger or Schr\"odinger equation is given and the method illustrated by a computational application.

Physical Review LettersFeb 28, 199441 citations

Time-independent wave-packet forms of the Schr\"odinger equation (TIWSE) and Lippmann-Schwinger equation (TIWLSB) have been derived by a partial time-to-energy Fourier transform of

{\mathit{L}}^{2}

wave-packet solutions to the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation. The new equations retain the initial wave packet \ensuremath{\chi}(

{\mathit{t}}_{0}

) as a ``universal source'' of scattered waves, which applies for all collision energies E contained in the initial wave packet. The relationship between the solution ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Psi}}}_{\mathit{t}0}$(E) of the TIWSE or TIWLSE and the scattering solution ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Psi}}}^{(+)}$(E) of the standard time-independent Lippmann-Schwinger or Schr\"odinger equation is given and the method illustrated by a computational application.