Controllable circular Airy beams via dynamic linear potential

We investigate controllable spatial modulation of circular autofocusing Airy beams, under action of different dynamic linear potentials, both theoretically and numerically. We introduce a novel treatment method in which the circular Airy beam is represented as a superposition of narrow azimuthally-modulated one-dimensional Airy beams that can be analytically treated. The dynamic linear potentials are appropriately designed, so that the autofocusing effect can either be weakened or even eliminated when the linear potential exerts a pulling effect on the beam, or if the linear potential exerts a pushing effect, the autofocusing effect can be greatly strengthened. Numerical simulations agree with the theoretical results very well. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America