1D Bessel-like beam generation by highly directive transmission through a sub-wavelength slit embedded in periodic metallic grooves

A new method to generate a quasi-one dimensional (1D) Bessel-like beam whose non-diffracting length extends to macroscopic scale is proposed by utilizing highly directive transmission through a sub-wavelength single slit embedded in periodic metallic grooves. We employed finite-difference time-domain methods for full-vectorial diffraction and spectral analysis. In optimal conditions, unique quasi-1D Bessel-like beams were generated in transmission for the incident p-polarized plane wave such that highly asymmetric far-field distribution was achieved; Bessel-like beam along the slit axis and a flat-top super-Gaussian beam along the other perpendicular axis. Detailed parametric studies for the proposed structure are reported in terms of the operating spectral range and a general window of optimal conditions. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.